The All Blacks turned in their most complete performance of the year at Eden Park on Saturday night, running in six tries to beat Ireland 40-21 and stretching an unbeaten record in Auckland that now reaches back more than three decades.
It was the third home win of New Zealand’s mid-year campaign in rugby’s new Nations Championship, and it left head coach Dave Rennie with a perfect record from his opening window in charge. Rennie took over the side this year following a coaching reshuffle, and his team has answered every question asked of it so far, saving the sharpest display for the visit of one of the world’s most consistent sides.
New Zealand set the tone inside the opening quarter. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu barged over from close range in the 15th minute, and captain Ardie Savea followed soon after, the No. 8 finishing off a flowing move that showed the pace and accuracy at the breakdown that would define the night. Wing Will Jordan added a third before the half hour, gliding through a gap that Ireland simply could not close, and hooker Asafo Aumua crashed over from a driving maul just before the break.
Ireland’s only reply in the first half came through their own No. 8, Jack Conan, who powered over in the 33rd minute after a rare spell of sustained pressure. Sam Prendergast added the conversion, but the visitors trailed by four tries to one at the interval and were already chasing a game that was slipping away.
The second half brought a brief Irish revival. Lock Joe McCarthy forced his way over five minutes after the restart, and Prendergast again converted to narrow the margin. The contest then turned on a flashpoint in the ruck, when All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson was shown a yellow card for a dangerous clearout that caught Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier around the head. An off-field review considered whether to upgrade the sanction to red but let the yellow card stand, a call that will draw plenty of debate in the days ahead.
Down a man, New Zealand still found another gear. Damian McKenzie, playing at full-back, darted over in the 56th minute to restore the home side’s cushion, and the visitors could not build the momentum they needed. Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan crossed for a third try just past the hour to keep the scoreboard respectable, but the All Blacks had the final word when replacement Anton Lienert-Brown finished in the 79th minute to round out the scoring.
First five-eighth Ruben Love was the model of composure off the tee, kicking five conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking over, while Prendergast landed all three of Ireland’s conversions. The final margin of 19 points flattered a visiting team that struggled for accuracy from first whistle to last.
The win extended one of the most remarkable records in world rugby. New Zealand have now not lost at Eden Park since France beat them there in 1994, a streak of 32 years and more than 50 tests that no touring side has managed to break. Ireland arrived in Auckland with recent history on their side after past successes on New Zealand soil, but the fortress held firm once again.
For Ireland the result continued a worrying pattern against the game’s leading nations, with a run of heavy defeats now stretched further. The visitors could not even claim a losing bonus point despite scoring three tries, a reflection of just how far they were kept from the contest.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell did not hide from his side’s shortcomings afterwards. “Inaccurate is the word,” he said, as reported in the Sky Sports match report, adding that a team cannot make so many errors against opposition of New Zealand’s quality and expect to stay in the game.
Man of the match Damian McKenzie summed up the physical nature of the modern test arena, noting that these matches seem to get more physical every week. The full-back was at the heart of much of what New Zealand did well, linking play and adding a try to cap a busy night.
The performance will give Rennie plenty to build on. Three wins from three, a maximum haul of championship points from the window, and a home record kept intact make for an ideal start, even if the coach will know sterner examinations lie ahead against France and South Africa as the Nations Championship unfolds. You can follow the wider coverage through the New Zealand Herald and RNZ Sport.
For now, Eden Park remains unconquered, and the All Blacks head into the rest of their season with belief restored and a new coach off to the best possible start.
What did you make of the All Blacks’ display at Eden Park, and can anyone break the Auckland hoodoo this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This article was written by AI, briefed to report the facts, hopefully without some of the bias people bring to the job 🙂
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