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All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett celebrates his first half three against Ireland at Eden Park.
By Eden Park, Auckland: All Blacks 42 (Jordie Barrett 22 ‘, Sevu Reece 30’, Quinn Tupaea 36 ‘, Ardie Savea 38’ 53 ‘, Pita Gus Sowakula 71’ tries; Jordie Barrett 6 with) Irish 19 (Keith Earls 6 ‘, Garry Ringrose 44’, Bundee Aki 77 ‘tries; Joey Carbery 2 with). HT: 28-5
The All Blacks got off to a slow start to beat Ireland 42-19 in Auckland on Saturday night on the back of a strong finish from the first half.
It took them 20 minutes to get into the game against a team they had beaten three times in their last five events, but eventually stretched their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 47 games in front of a crowd of 48,195.
Three All Blacks tries in the last 10 minutes of the first period caused Ireland to falter at half-time, especially as they also lost the first-five Jonathan Sexton when he failed a head injury determination. [HIA].
The 23-point victory would have come as a sweet relief to coach Ian Foster at the end of a week where Covid-19 wreaked havoc with his team’s preparations.
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Foster and assistant coach John Plumtree had to isolate at home until the day of the game, while defensive coach Scott McLeod and scrumhalf coach Greg Feek were completely ruled out, along with midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue and fullback Will Jordan.
The All Blacks’ week got worse when Ireland scored the first try of the evening when right wing Keith Earls dived over after six minutes at the end of an attack that lasted almost 20 phases.
The visitors were almost in for a second shortly afterwards when a kick in midfield gave them a two-on-one, only for Beauden Barrett to act and intercept the last pass, meant for half-back Jamison Gibson -Park.
It took 20 minutes for the All Blacks to load up any sustained pressure, but after debutant Leicester Fainga’anuku went down close to the left, Jordie Barrett was able to put them ahead after receiving a cut-out pass from Aaron Smith and his own switched. try.
Ireland continued to be the team on the front foot, trying to move the ball quickly, but when James Lowe slipped when a pass came his way on the left, Sevu Reece snatched the loose ball and ran 80m to to record.
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All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring a dominant end to the first half against Ireland.
Sexton left for his HIA at the same time, after All Blacks captain Sam Cane was cut off in a relatively harmless incident that nevertheless made him struggle to get on his feet.
Beauden Barrett then showed a touch of class and kicked through the Irish defensive line to set up Quinn Tupaea for a try, while Smith himself went into the middle of a loose scrum and got enough of a touch as he went to his own kicked rushing to make way for Ardie Savea.
A 23-point lead would have looked like a fantasy just 20 minutes earlier and Ireland immediately cut into it when the second half started by center Garry Ringrose, with Joey Carbery, for Sexton, who added the extras.
Savea responded by taking off three Irish tackles to score and restore the All Blacks’ four-try advantage, while Ireland were denied two tries just before the hour mark because they knocked while diving for the line.
Those failures stifled the visitors, who were determined to get back into the competition, seeking their first ever victory in New Zealand.
Pita Gus Sowakula marked his All Blacks debut from the bench by scoring their sixth try of the evening, while Ireland had late consolation by substitute Bundee Aki.
The big moment
Beauden Barrett’s decision to go for an interception when faced with two Irish strikers was a bold one, but it denied Ireland what would likely be a second try when they were top early and the momentum swung shortly thereafter.
match rating
7/10: Ireland offered more than many visitors to this coast have this time of year, especially in the first 20 minutes, while the All Blacks’ finishing of the first half put them at their clinical best.
MVP
Half-back became a host-controversial position in New Zealand, but Aaron Smith showed why he remains the All Blacks’ No. 9 and had a big hand in two of their four first-half tries.
The big pictures
The All Blacks have overcome some early battle to secure a major victory at the end of a chaotic week, while Ireland will now do well to pull something out of this series, with the second Test in Dunedin next Saturday.