Details

Date Time Competition Season
13 November 2021 3:15 pm Men's Senior International 2021/22

Match Report

Ireland claim third ever win over All-Blacks

A dominant and hard fought performance from Ireland secured a 29-20 victory over world number one side New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium.

Tries from James Lowe, Rónan Kelleher and Caelan Dorris sealed the deserved victory for Andy Farrell’s charges.

After New Zealand’s Haka was drowned out by cries of “The Fields Of Athenry” from the Aviva Stadium, Ireland started the game off at an emphatic pace.

With just over 10 minutes played, New Zealand’s Codie Taylor was sin binned for a poor shoulder to head tackle on Johnny Sexton. Sexton kicked to the corner and after recycling the ball very well inside the All Black’s 22, he found Keenan in space out wide. Keenan delivered to his Leinster teammate James Lowe who finished in the corner for a try against his birth country to give Ireland an early advantage.

Jonathan Sexton missed the follow up conversion at a difficult angle before Jordie Barrett’s penalty minutes later reduced the deficit for New Zealand. Ireland almost increased their lead on the half hour mark when Rónan Kelleher drove off the back of an Irish rolling Maul.

Tadgh Furlong then took the ball off the back of the ruck and went over for what looked to be Ireland’s second try of the afternoon. Sadly for the hosts, Kelleher was adjudged to have used a double movement after going to the ground in the build up to the try resulting in the try being disallowed.

Moments later, completely against the run of play, Dalton Papilii broke through the Irish line and released Codie Taylor who dived over to give New Zealand the lead. Despite dominating the majority of the first 40 minutes, Ireland found themselves 10-5 down at the interval.

Ireland started the second period off the same as they played the first and they were rewarded with an early try courtesy of the ever-lively Rónan Kelleher who dived over the line from close range to level the scores. Kelleher was immense throughout the game and acted like an extra back row at every breakdown for Ireland.

Seven minutes later, Man of the match Caelan Dorris received the ball from Gibson-Park just outside the New Zealand 22 yard line. Dorris sidestepped past Codie Taylor before diving over for Ireland’s third try of the afternoon. Sexton converted from just in front of the posts to extend their advantage.

Just as it looked like Ireland were cruising to a victory, Will Jordan’s chip kick over the Irish defence found the on-rushing Rieko Ioane who popped the ball back inside to Jordan who crossed over the line to level the scores.

Joey Carberry found himself immediately involved after replacing Sexton with just under 20 minutes to play.

Carberry’s penalty stretched Ireland’s advantage to six points heading into the final ten minutes. Jordie Barrett replied with a penalty of his own to keep all Irish onlookers on the edge of their seats.

After James Lowe and Peter O’ Mahony combined brilliantly to stop Ioane on the halfway line for Ireland, Carberry added another three points with a fantastic penalty straight between the posts.

In the final play of the game , Joey Carberry again fired over another valuable penalty to secure Ireland’s third ever win over the All Blacks.

Ireland

15Hugo Keenan Full-Back
14Andrew Conway Winger
13Garry Ringrose Centre
12Bundee Aki 23 Centre
11James Lowe Winger 14'
10Johnny Sexton 22 Fly-Half 52'
56'
9Jamison Gibson-Park 21 Scrum-Half
1Andrew Porter 17 Prop
2Ronan Kelleher 16 Hooker 43'
3Tadhg Furlong 18 Prop
4Iain Henderson 19 Lock
5James Ryan Lock
6Caelan Doris Flanker 51'
7Josh Van Der Flier 20 Flanker
8Jack Conan No. 8
16Rob Herring 2 Hooker
17Cian Healy 1 Prop
18Finlay Bealham 3 Prop
19Tadhg Beirne 4 Lock
20Peter O’Mahony 7 Flanker
21Conor Murray 9 Scrum-Half
22Joey Carbery 10 Fly-Half 65', 73', 79'
23Keith Earls 12 Winger

New Zealand

15Jordie Barrett Full-Back 33', 62'
19', 68'
14Will Jordan Winger 61'
13Rieko Ioane Centre
12Anton Lienert-Brown 23 Centre
11Sevu Reece Winger
10Beauden Barrett 22 Fly-Half
9TJ Perenara Scrum-Half
1Joe Moody 17 Prop
2Codie Taylor 16 Hooker 32'
12'
3Nepo Laulala 18 Prop
4Brodie Retallick Lock
5Samuel Whitelock Lock
6Ethan Blackadder 20 Flanker
7Dalton Papalii Flanker
8Ardie Savea No. 8
16Dane Coles 2 Hooker
17Karl Tu’inukuafe 1 Prop
18Tyrel Lomax 3 Prop
19Tupou Vaa’I Lock
20Akira Ioane 6 Flanker
21Finlay Christie Scrum-Half
22Richie Mo’unga 10 Centre
23David Havili 12 Centre

Ground

Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Sandymount, Pembroke West ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 CA43, Ireland

Luke is a final year Journalism student in DCU. He is a Sports Reporter for Wicklow People Sport and FinalWhistle.ie.