All Blacks beat Ireland in dour contest

Eurosport - Sun, 16 Nov 12:31:00 2008

New Zealand remain on course for a Grand Slam of the home unions following a 22-3 win over Ireland in a scrappy and ill-disciplined game at Croke Park in Dublin.

Ma'a Nonu - New Zealand - 0

The All Blacks, who beat Scotland 32-6 last week, wrestled control in first half stoppage time thanks to a controversially awarded penalty try before tries from Ma'a Nonu and Brad Thorn put the tourists out of sight.

Ireland lost Tommy Bowe to the sin bin and their early momentum when the winger was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball out of bounds to prevent New Zealand captain Richie McCaw from touching down in the corner.

New Zealand were temporarily reduced to 14 men early on in a poor second period when Tony Woodcock was yellow carded for throwing a punch only for Nonu to coast through and Thorn to barge over during the prop's ten minutes absence.

"We never managed to get a foothold in their half," Ireland coach Declan Kidney said.

"In the first 30 minutes, we allowed a lot of our own energy to be soaked up and spent a lot of time in our own half.

"You run away with things that happened in the second half, probably the foundation for those were laid in the first half, especially those first 30 minutes."

After an open first quarter, New Zealand took the lead on 26 minutes when flyhalf Dan Carter slotted over a penalty having uncharacteristically missing two earlier simple efforts.

Carter's opposite number Ronan O'Gara, nervy kicking from hand early on, drew the sides level two minutes from halftime by landing a penalty from distance before Bowe's goal-line intrusion swung the game.

Woodcock's transgression evened the numbers at 14 each three minutes into the second half but the home side were unable to respond.

First the ever-threatening Nonu slipped through a hole in the Ireland defence caused by the limping Paul O'Connell, who was later substituted, to exchange passes with wing Joe Rokocoko and give Carter the easiest opportunity to add the conversion.

Then Thorn, one of only a handful to impress in a below-par All Black side, collected a Sitiveni Sivivatu pass out wide to smash through the returning Bowe and kill the game off.

The tourists, undefeated in 22 matches against the Irish, had opportunities to stretch their lead towards the 45-7 winning scoreline of their last visit three years ago but the game disintegrated desperately into a forgettable final half hour.

"They attacked us from everywhere, we had to be at our best to come away with that victory," New Zealand lock Ali Williams said.

Ireland, who beat Canada 55-0 in Kidney's first game in charge last week, host Argentina next weekend while New Zealand face Wales.

"With the way the results have gone now, in the same way we didn't let ourselves get carried away last week it's important we don't get too disappointed this week," Kidney added.

"Next week's game is just so important for us. The boys are well battered and bruised so the next 24 hours is going to be very important to get as many of them back as possible."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. Keith.mehaffey you are on crack if you think Ireland­ can win

    From Charly K, on Tue 18 Nov 9:41PM

  2. I think the coverage is a bit negative. Irelands­ defence, notwithstanding the 3 tries, was bloody good.­ The fact that the all blacks played badly, as someone­ pointed out, is largely a reflection of the defensive­ work done by Ireland. Ireland were no match for them,­ true, but they didnt lack imagination in attack. They­ tried a lot of different options. NZ scored only 3­ tries (lets see how many they put on England. I reckon­ at least 5). The first one got bowe a sin binning, but­ was inches from being the save of the day. The second­ went through a limping paul o connel (I cant understand­ why kidney left him on for 10 minutes after his­ injury), though to be fair he wouldnt have caught his­ man on 4 legs, as the great george hook pointed out,­ especially with only john hayes outside him for­ company. The third try was a blinder.
    This series is­ going to give us an indication of where we stand for­ the six nations, and we all know that the SH sides are­ still better (sad but true). I wouldnt write Ireland­ off just yet. Lets wait till its over before we place­ our bets.

    From john f, on Mon 17 Nov 3:34PM

  3. Neathguard seriously??!!
    I did some homework for you to­ find out how many of the current All Blacks were born­ in New Zealand. I think you'll find ALL of them­ were (making them Kiwis apparently *sigh*) with the­ exception of Joe Rokocoko - Joe Rokocoko migrated to­ New Zealand with his family at the age of 5, settling­ in South Auckland, and attending James Cook High­ School, Sitivini Sivivatu who moved to New Zealand when­ he was 15, Rodney So'oialo who moved to New Zealand­ at school age along with Jerome Kaino.
    That's 4­ squad members that moved to NZ at a pretty young­ age.
    That's a pretty New Zealand team if you ask me­ pal. Next time learn something before you open your­ mouth about something you know nothing of.
    I also­ find you ignorant to believe that because a players­ name isn't Smith or Jones they aren't Kiwis. ­
    Isaac Boss is from my hometown in NZ...did I see him­ play for Ireland? Oh...yes I did.

    From st0bes, on Sun 16 Nov 11:21AM

  4. Very concise reply wflorence though i think an­ explanation is wasted on such a person.People like­ neath always need something to whinge about .You cant­ tell by a persons surname which country they are a­ citizen of no matter how smart you are.
    Watched the­ match and have to admit it was the worst i have ever­ seen of an all black display.Mind you ireland were not­ much better.

    From tani1959, on Sun 16 Nov 3:01AM

  5. omg neathguard8, where on earth were you educated?? A­ few facts to bring you up to speed perhaps?.....1=­ there is no such place as *the south sea islands* 2=­ you cannot distinghish ones ethniticity soley by their­ surname (i guess you think Whoppi Goldberg is jewish­ lmao) 3= every member of the all blacks is from New­ Zealand and speaks fluent english with a clearly­ defined NEW ZEALAND accent, funnily enough the same can­ be said for at least one member of each of the 3­ british rugby teams. 4= there are more people of samoan­ heritage living in New Zealand than there are in Samoa­ itself, this is the same with Tongans, Nuieans,­ Rorotongans, Tokelauans and Cook Islanders. The­ generations that preceeded them came to New Zealand for­ a better way of life for their families, while at the­ same time keeping the bonds with their homeland and­ customs close........ New Zealand is proud to be a­ blend of ALL pacific peoples, not just our native­ Maori, we are proud of the bonds that tie us to our­ pacific neigbours. As for the rugby, if you had done­ any research you would know that NZ has done more to­ advance the great game in the smaller pacific nations­ than any other country has, unlike the northen­ hemisphere clubs who throw money at indivduals to take­ them away to the other side of the world, and when that­ player wants to return home to see his much missed­ family or represent his homeland, the club kindly­ points out that the contract he was urged to sign (that­ he could barely read let alone understand) does not­ allow it. I hope your neanderthal brain can digest all­ that mate :)

    From wflorence14, on Sun 16 Nov 2:33AM

  6. new zeland 22 ireland 3 hahaha close game hahaah

    From S M, on Sat 15 Nov 10:51PM

  7. I am an open-mineded single girl who love sports. I­ want to end my single life by meeting
    a guy who likes­ sports too. Let's mingle at the club ___ kISs M­ ill iona ireS Co m __

    From sexyhotdeee, on Sat 15 Nov 10:33PM

  8. Well done All Blacks, not a bad team but when it comes­ to World Cups .....?? One or two key players out­ injured ( Umaga then Carter) and it all comes to­ pieces.

    From Old Mr Happy, on Sat 15 Nov 7:50PM

  9. black in the blood,all blacks to win. tadgh

    From S M, on Sat 15 Nov 3:28PM

  10. @neathguard8 skewen

    ALL all blacks are kiwis. do your­ research...they are a proud people...

    it ill be a fun­ match to watch though...about time Ireland fielded a­ squad that can play.

    All blacks win by 17 pts.

    From Kyle, on Sat 15 Nov 2:23PM

  11. ireland to lose by -11 points. I have 200 euros on it.

    From eire, on Sat 15 Nov 1:14PM

  12. It's a bit like Fultey playing for England!!

    From Slainte M, on Sat 15 Nov 10:45AM

  13. how many of the All Blacks were born in New­ Zealand.
    Looking at the names it seems that many of­ them are from th South Sea Islands, and if that is the­ case not only is New Zealand rugby as strong as we­ think, but it limits the islanders to second class­ teams. It is time something was done by the IRB, if you­ are not born in a country or the same nationality as­ you parents you should not be allowed to play. If a­ Tonga for instance lives in England for 5 years he is­ still a Tongan and not English

    From neathguard8 skewen, on Fri 14 Nov 10:54PM

  14. GO ALL BLACKS!!!

    From strctlybznss, on Fri 14 Nov 10:44PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ireland dont stand a chance, who are we kidding!!They­ are going to need more than a kicking game and strong­ defence, they need a miralce to happen, and wont be­ this weekend.

    From coriek, on Fri 14 Nov 9:06PM

  16. Ireland will win this match! This is their best chance­ for a long time to reverse this terrible record. Strong­ tackling and great discipline will be needed as well as­ creative centre play! Brian O`Driscoll has a big score­ to settle from the lions tour also! Come on Ireland you­ can do it!!!

    From keith.mehaffey, on Fri 14 Nov 6:02PM
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