All Blacks take down Eire in Dublin after McKenzie masterclass

Andy Farrell’s Irish rugby facet appeared to bury the frustration of final 12 months’s World Cup heartache by getting one again on the All Blacks.

However as soon as once more it was the lads in black who spoiled the occasion, this time on the coronary heart of Irish rugby in Dublin 23-13.

The victory noticed the All Blacks transfer as much as second within the World Rugby rankings, the place they’ve the Springboks of their sights. The ten-point defeat noticed Eire drop down to 3rd.

Regardless of lacking key males Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor, in addition to shedding Jordie Barrett to a yellow card on the stroke of half-time, Scott Robertson’s males scored 14 unanswered factors to claw their method again into the competition and seal a hard-fought win.

Mercurial fly-half Damian McKenzie was on the coronary heart of the win, banging over six penalties to depart Lansdowne Street with an 18-point bag. Simply as importantly, he did loads to vary the notion that he’s merely a super-sub on the worldwide stage as he steered his facet round with aplomb.

Taylor’s substitute, Asafo Aumua, additionally stepped as much as the plate in simply his fourth begin within the No.2 jersey as the subsequent era of the All Blacks continued their surge all through the UK and Eire by sealing their fifth straight win.

In a Take a look at the place either side managed only one attempt apiece, Eire’s dealing with allow them to down on a greasy night the place territory and accuracy was the whole lot.

Particularly, Eire’s inside backs turned over an excessive amount of ball whereas the All Blacks managed to disrupt the house facet’s lineout repeatedly too.

The Irish additionally shot themselves within the foot by gifting away 12 penalties, with Australian referee Nic Berry taking a no-nonsense method on the breakdown.

Former All Black turned pundit Jeff Wilson described the win as their “greatest efficiency of the 12 months”.