by Brendan Cole
Analysis: George Hook says that New Zealand will start worrying about the World Cup because of this game. Their scrum and lineout in particular is a problem for them. Conor O'Shea says that without Dan Carter, New Zealand would be in big trouble.
Brent Pope says 'back up the truck, isn't this a bit of All Black bashing here!' Any team would be weaker without their best out-half, he adds.
Man of the match Dan Carter says 'full credit to the Irish boys, they played a lot of great footie for parts of the game' and admits that Ireland were more physical in parts of the game.
Your comments:
Joseph Cotter "We never had a chance with a ref from the Southern Hemisphere! NZ players constantly going in off their feet and being very cynical; really playing very close to the edge with some late hits going in and high arm stuff going on."
Michael: "When the try was disallowed should it not have been a NZ throw in instead of a drop out?"
Not sure Michael. Ireland brought the ball over the line and into the dead ball area, where it was put out of play, I think that's a 22.
David: "Last time Ireland played against SA and Scotland when the lineout was failing, George Hook stated that the coach couldnt bring Cronin on because the coach couldnt trust him, and effectively he wasnt good enough.
"Surely now can George admit that the coach failed in this regard.... and Cronin is good enough. Why do we have to wait for injury to force the coaches hand to give players game time?"
FULL-TIME: Ireland 18-38 New Zealand
80 mins New Zealand win the ball at that scrum as it fell apart and they move it right, where a chip is touched into touch by an Irish hand.
But Ireland win the lineout and shift it along the backline. Again, though, the ball does not go to hand and trickles into touch. New Zealand are still wide awake though, and McCaw receives the quick throw. They quickly shift it to the far side of the field, where Read is there to run in a try. But Carter can't make the conversion, and that's the end of the game.
Ireland 18-38 New Zealand (Try Read)
77 mins Toner again claims the ball in the middle and Ireland move the ball right. But Jonny Sexton is hit hard and the ball goes to ground. Eventually, the call is for a scrum to Ireland as an NZ hand knocked it on in that tackle.
75 mins Ronan O'Gara is in but for Rob Kearney.
Ireland can't win the 22, and it is NZ ball on their 10m line. Carter hits a terrific kick over Bowe's head but it doesn't roll into touch. Sexton returns it long to Muliaina and he finds touch on the Irish 22.
75 mins Dominant scrum from Ireland and they move it right to O'Driscoll who is hauled over - hint of a high shot. Ireland are given penalty advantage but move it to the left and again running with ambition, Earls gets by the corner flag but it looks like no try - he just lost control.
TMO time - 22 dropout.
73 mins Ireland are given a free-kick there, and Heaslip wastes no time, charging at NZ again. Ireland move the ball acros the backline a couple of times, and are then given a penalty when Leamy is not released by the tackler.
Scrum is the option picked by Ireland - 15 yards from the NZ line.
71 mins Ireland are back on the attack again, they lost the original lineout but there are turnovers aplenty and Heaslip and Cronin both have eye-catching charges at the NZ defence.
Keith Earls eventually got stopped on the NZ 22 and it is a scrum for Ireland.
69 mins Almost another try for Ireland! Their first attack was turned over but as New Zealand went to kick it, Gordon D'Arcy got to the man and tackled. Bowe and Sexton went close from within a few yards but Sean Cronin then knocked on as Ireland desperately tried to get another try.
New Zealand clear it long through scurm-half sub Mathewson.
67 mins More frenetic stuff. With Stinger uring them on, Ireland make 20 yards - opting to tap and go a penalty that McCaw was pinged for - but are turned over. But they win it back again and are eventually given another penalty out on the right after a poorly judged Cian Healy kick pings off a couple of All Blacks, giving Ireland offside. Sexton punts it down to inside the NZ 22.
64 mins Huge break for Ireland, the ball pops out the back of the scrum as Jonker shouted 'use it!'. A bad pass by New Zealand is picked up by Stringer and he kicks it down to near the NZ 22!
Down there, Gear does brilliantly well to beat the onrushing Bowe and then set it up and NZ are awarded the penalty for some over-enthusiastic rucking by Ireland. Carter punts it down to the Irish 22.
But Andrew Hore takes an age to throw it in and with the crowd roaring, Ireland get the free kick.
John Afoa is in for NZ in the front row.
63 mins Another penalty - Cian Healy is getting singled out for his binding - as that scrum goes down under pressure on Ireland by NZ. Yellow card could be the result if he is not careful.
John Hayes is in for Court at tighthead. Denis Leamy is in for Wallace. Peter Stringer is coming in for Ireland.
61 mins Big scrum on the Irish 5m line out on the NZ left. Ireland get a shove on and get the ball, but the ref says a hand got it to the Irish side. NZ decide to scrum again. Surprising, as they are not exactly killing Ireland.
They try a move and give it Gear in off his wing and again are just held up on the line - Heaslip doing just enough to stop a try.
New Zealand had a penalty advantage though and opt to scrum again.
60 mins New Zealand again nab this restart and they are attacking inside the Irish 22. After some energy sapping charges, Gear almost makes it over on the left. McCaw is also close to getting across and he is stopped - illegally according to ref Jonker. Advantage New Zealand. They choose to scrum.
Two big hits from Cian Healy were highlights of some terrific Irish defence there.
NZ have a few subs in - including Sonny Bill Williams for Nonu.
57 mins TRY IRELAND! An incredible try from human highlights reel Brian O'Driscoll! Ireland moved the ball right through Sexton, who passed to Kearney. His offload to Heaslip went to deck but O'Driscoll scooped up the ball one handed and burrowed over from 10 yards.
It looked like the rest of the players simply stopped as O'Driscoll darted along there. Amazing. Unfortunately, Sexton can't convert.
Ireland 18-33 New Zealand (Try O'Driscoll)
54 mins Big scrum for Ireland and they walk the scrum two yards forward! Surprising stuff, Ireland march the NZ scrum back two yards!
The All Blacks get a warning - time in the bin for Woodcock on offer. The next scrum slips over. And the next one sees New Zealand get the shove on and Heaslip takes it out. Ireland go through two phases but are not making any ground.
53 mins Ireland win the lineout and maul it but an offside New Zealander ends the move. A warning and penalty for that. Ireland kick to touch again and a maul gets them within two yards of the line. Ferris has a go and so do a few others but we are in stalemate territory and the sequence ends with a scrum 5 to Ireland as a ball in a ruck becomes unplayable.
51 mins New Zealand shift the ball straight away again but a scrappy pass by New Zealand is picked off by Jamie Heaslip, who hares down the left wing! Heaslip makes 60 yards but can't connect with Keith Earls inside and instead he waits on support.
Brian O'Driscoll arrives but the momentum is gone and Ireland get a penalty, which they kick to touch.
49 mins Ireland have brought in Devin Toner. New Zealand claim the restart through Whitelock, who tumbles to the deck. The ref singles out Tommy Bowe for competing for the ball dangerously.
Penalty New Zealand which Carter bangs up to the Irish 22.
48 mins Keith Earls is in for Fitzgerald.
NZ claim the restart and Carter punts it long. Kearney has a cut and half beats a man beffore feeding Bowe, who sets it up. David Wallace is the next man to get it but he knocks it on and New Zealand have it. A kicking exchange ends when New Zealand decide to attack again.
Another try for New Zealand quickly follows, they move Ireland from wing to wing and soon have a huge overlap that is finished off by Sam Whitelock out on the wing.
Carter again smacks over the conversion.
Ireland 13-33 New Zealand (try Whitelock, conv Carter)
45 mins Try New Zealand. New Zealand get no joy on their first attack, Cory Jane stopped on the wing. But they move it right and a nice piece of delay and a step by Ma'a Nonu in the centre gets them running in space down the left. Gear just hangs on to a pass and sets it up on the right. It is quickly moved back across to the wing, where Kaino hands off one man and pops to Read, who runs the ball in for the try.
Ireland 13-26 New Zealand (Read try, Carter conv)
43 mins That was an Irish lineout - a touch? - but Fitzgerald took it quickly to Ferris and he was almost turned over. Ireland are given a penalty though. Ferris was totally isolated but the NZ tacklers did not release. Sexton punts it long.
But the Irish lineout fails, as crooked in by Cronin gives it back to NZ. Scrum NZ inside their own half.
41 mins New Zealand secure the restart and Muliaina kicks it long. Sexton punts it high into the air and Fitzgerald and Muliaina collide underneath it but neither collects. New Zealand are back on the attack and after a run by Gear, Muliaina again opens up Ireland down the middle and is almost clean through. He is just stopped inside the Irish 22 and Ireland manage to turn it over and punt it out into touch.
Ireland were within 5 yards of their line there.
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Half-time: Ireland are ahead but they deserve huge credit for some of the rugby they have played.
Conor O'Shea is wondering if Ireland can live with the pace of this game for 80 minutes. New Zealand have been playing with this type of open, fluid game for longer. Brent Pope agrees that if Ireland are forced to do more tackling than NZ they could be in trouble.
Sam Whitelock has come in for Tom Donnelly for NZ.
Don't forget that after today's game you can watch more chat and analysis in Guinness Area 22 on the RTÉ.ie/sport website.
40 mins Ireland win this ball through O'Callaghan and maul it but don't get far. Cronin pops it to Reddan, and it is then moved wide across the backline to Kearney, who pins his ears back and charges down the wing. A tap tackle gets him down. Ireland go are turned over a phase or two later when Wallace knocks it forward.
New Zealand attack now, Muliaina finding space in the middle and again, they are back up to the Irish 22. A huge but slightly high hit by Healy has drawn the ref's attention - and it is advantage NZ.
But New Zealand keep coming and are within two yards of the line. And then they break the Irish resistance, Anthony Boric stretching a long arm over the tryline from close to a ruck that got a bit scrappy to get a try for New Zealand.
Carter, again, taps over the kick despite a determined chase. A poor end to the half for Ireland but they have been heroic. Hopefully, there'll be no yellow card action for Healy in the dressing room.
Ireland 13-19 New Zealand (Boric try, Carter conv)
35 mins Ireland restart down the middle again where McCaw takes it this time. Carter kicks it and it bounces just inside the field of play on the halfway line. Lineout Ireland.
34 mins Ireland are penalised for dropping the scrum and Carter will have a shot at goal from the 10m line.
Again, he makes no mistake. Another fantastic strike.
Ireland 13-12 New Zealand (Carter pen)
33 mins Ireland win this restart, Mick O'Driscoll taking it. And they quickly move it wide but Rob Kearney loses it forward attempting to step Conrad Smith.
30 mins Ireland win this restart, put straight down the middle by Sexton and Heaslip nabbed the tap. Ireland are on the attack in the NZ 22 and Cronin and Wallace have goes at the heart of the NZ defence.
Ireland move left and wide and have numbers, and Ferris times a superb run off Heaslip, who pops it to the big Ulsterman and he is in for a try!!!!!
Try Ireland: Ferris' first international try, and what a time to get it!
Sexton pops over this conversion - seven points to Ireland!
Ireland 13-9 New Zealand (Try Ferris, Conv Sexton)
29 mins Again, the New Zealand out-half makes the kick look easy. Best of the night so far.
Ireland 6-9 New Zealand (Carter pen)
26 mins NZ again claim the restart again and they move it left to Smith, who sets it up on the Irish 22. New Zealand pass it wide and Nonu is caught way behind the gainline in the middle of the field.
But Carter soon turns the momentum, making a little half break and NZ are again in the Irish 22 and attacking. On the left, Muliaina and Gear have a go but are stopped.
Within seconds, it is over on the other side, where Carter has a little cut but is swallowed up by three Irish players. Marius Jonker is not happy with this, he has decided Ireland didn't release the tackler. Penalty and a 'pre-warning' for Ireland. From out on the wing, Carter will have a shot at goal.
25 mins Sexton is on song tonight, and smacks a tough kick between the posts from the 10m line.
Ireland 6-6 New Zealand (Sexton penalty)
24 mins Cronin's throw is picked off and New Zealand are attacking again in the Irish half. On the 22, Carter chips over the advancing defence and stumbles but there is no penalty. Heaslip gathers and sets it up.
O'Driscoll now kicks it long and into the NZ 22 - brillliant line kick there - but NZ take it quickly and run it back.
A turnover by Ireland punishes that decision and Ireland attack again and get a penalty for NZ slapping the ball out of Reddan's hand as he went to pass it from the ruck.
22 mins Sean Cronin replaces Rory Best, who is a casualy of that sequence. New Zealand win the 22 drop out that resulted from that missed drop at goal. Carter pounds a kick long and deep into the Irish half. Over Fitzgerald, one bounce and in.
20 mins Sweet move by Ireland, O'Driscoll releasing Reddan with a little delayed circle pass. Reddan is in the clear with only Muliaina in front but his attempt to chip the NZ full-back is blocked, and New Zealand are now on the attack. So unlucky.
New Zealand are again on the attack in the Irish half but O'Callaghan has other ideas and turns it over! It is moved right quickly where Bowe breaks a tackle and makes yards!
And Ireland go wide again to the left, and set it up - it is frantic, wonderful stuff! - and then Gordon D'Arcy has a drop goal that slides about 5 or 10 yards wide. Superb stuff from Ireland and it is a hell of a sequence of play.
18 mins Good scrum ball for NZ and they go 8-9-15 to Muliaina, who is tackled by O'Driscoll on the wing. New Zealand go through three phases but at the base of that ruck, scrum-half Andy Elliot makes a little error, knocking it on. Scrum Ireland.
16 mins Sexton tries to switch the kick but he puts it too long and NZ choose to take a scrum back in the centre of the field.
15 mins Classy strike from Carter out on the wing - despite some of the crowd doing their best to put him off.
Ireland 3-6 New Zealand (Carter penalty)
14 mins New Zealand win the lineout through Boric and go up the middle at Ireland. But strong tackling soon has the crowd roaring Ireland on!
It's penalty advantage to NZ on the touchline. Tommy Bowe is the man fingered for not releasing the tackler. New Zealand can't develop anything and are given the penalty and Carter will have a shot.
13 mins A messy scrum and Reddan ships a poor pass to Sexton. He moves it to O'Driscoll, who kicks it down the line but under pressure from Nonu he puts it straight out. Lineout NZ near the Irish 22.
12 mins NZ take the restart, continuing the against the head trend there, but from their first effort to play, McCaw knocks it on. Scrum Ireland.
11 mins From half-way, Sexton has a shot and to a massive roar he sticks it over!
Ireland 3-3 New Zealand (Sexton pen)
10 mins Ireland claim the restart this time and they have it on the NZ 22. They spin it wide but Kearney knocks it forward and NZ recover. They kick long to Fitzgerald and he sticks it up in the air. He competes but NZ get higher. They knock on though and Ireland get an offside call as one NZ number eight Read touches the ball after a knock on.
8 mins No mistake from Carter, he hits it hard through the middle.
Ireland 0-3 New Zealand (Carter penalty)
6 mins New Zealand have a slight edge in the scrum. They spread it left where a superb flip pass by Carter briefly has New Zealand looking like they have numbers out wide. Ireland recover though, shutting down the space, and New Zealand are back to crashing big men at Irish defenders one out from the ruck.
Cian Healy makes a good tackle and turns the ball over but he is pinged for being off his feet. NZ got to within 8 or 10 yards of the Irish line there.
5 mins Messy lineout as it is underthrown to Mick O'Driscoll and a knock on results. Scrum NZ near the Irish 22.
2 mins More good things for Ireland as Donncha O'Callaghan is hit in the air at 2 and a penalty to Ireland results. Sexton kicks to up near the Irish 10m line. Heaslip wins that ball at the tail and Ireland are showing ambition and going wide!
David Wallace kicks the ball but the All Blacks recover and run back to halfway. Muliaina kicks to Bowe who returns it long to Muliaina, who runs it.
New Zealand are back on halfway again and from there Kieran Read drives NZ down the wing before giving to McCaw, who is bundled into touch.
Stephen Ferris is getting looked at by the medics.
1 min New Zealand kick off and Dan Carter does the honours. He hoists his kick high and onto the 10m line where New Zealand get under it and take possession. McCaw takes a crash ball and New Zealand suddenly have an overlap on the right.
Trouble for Ireland as they make good yardage down the right, Boric eventually downed on the wing. After close to 10 phases, Ma'a Nonu is tackled into touch on the far wing after taking an offload from Hosea Gear.
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1730 New Zealand Haka. It's always impressive and they give it socks and - as ever - hold the stare at the end. Here comes the kick-off.
1725 Anthems now. God Defend New Zealand is funereally paced by the combined Army and Garda No 1 bands. New Zealand sing along dutifully but will only get really fired up for the Haka, which is up next.
Ireland belt out Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland's Call to massive roars from the supporters. The Movember count is not quite as high as last year - Tony Buckley's wonderful handlebar effort is missed but there is plenty of facial hair on display!
17.22 Ireland walk out on to the field with every starting player receiving a clap on the shoulder from John Hayes, who is on the subs bench. Big roar and the stadium is close to full.
17.20 Players are taking the field - the pundits don't fancy Ireland to win, but they think we might get a performance. Here's hoping.
17.15 No late changes to the teams and it is a fine, crisp evening at the Aviva Stadium. Ideal conditions for rugby today with a light breeze and - hopefully - a fairly full and atmospheric stadium.
17.10 The analysis is well underway in the TV studio. The scrum is a problem, we can't afford to give New Zealand a platform and we need to find a way to make our attacking play more dynamic says Conor O'Shea.
Ireland's concentration and communication in defence are a bugbear for Brent Pope, and he has some good examples to back it up with basic errors against both South Africa and New Zealand.
Ireland:
15 Rob Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain)
12 Gordon D'Arcy
11 Luke Fitzgerald
10 Jonathan Sexton
9 Eoin Reddan
1 Cian Healy
2 Rory Best
3 Tom Court
4 Donncha O'Callaghan
5 Mick O'Driscoll
6 Stephen Ferris
7 David Wallace
8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16 Sean Cronin
17 John Hayes
18 Devin Toner
19 Denis Leamy
20 Peter Stringer
21 Ronan O'Gara
22 Keith Earls
New Zealand:
15 Mils Muliaina
14 Cory Jane
13 Conrad Smith
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 Hosea Gear
10 Dan Carter
9 Andy Ellis
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Hika Elliot
3 Owen Franks
4 Anthony Boric
5 Tom Donnelly
6 Jerome Kaino
7 Richie McCaw (captain)
8 Kieran Read
Replacements:
16 Andrew Hore
17 John Afoa
18 Sam Whitelock
19 Liam Messam
20 Alby Mathewson
21 Stephen Donald
22 Sonny Bill Williams
Autumn international scores:
Italy 14-32 Australia, RESULT.
England 26-13 Samoa, RESULT.
Scotland 21-17 South Africa, RESULT.
France v Argentina, 7.45pm.
by Tadhg Peavoy
1656 Right folks, Brendan Cole will be guiding you through the Ireland match today. Take it easy, chat to y'all later.
Tadhg Peavoy.
1627 So, wins for Australia, England and Scotland. Northern hemisphere 2-1 southern hemisphere so far today.
Next up Ireland take on the All Blacks. Scroll back down the page to 1514 to check the teams for that one.
1623 Fautua Otto gets over late-on for Samoa, but it is merely a consolation as the whistle goes for full-time.
FULL-TIME: England 26-13 Samoa.
1620 Samoa are giving it everything against England in Twickenham. However, there is no way over the line for the Pacific Islanders.
1617 Scotland pick and go and wind down the last minute on the clock. It's a display of professional rucking and the Boks can't get their hands on the ball. As the Murrayfield crowd counts down the clock the ball is booted into touch and it's game over. Scotland beat the world champions. FULL-TIME: Scotland 21-17 South Africa.
1615 England are steering away from Samoa. It's 16-8 after 76 minutes. Further England scores coming from a Tom Croft try and a Flood penalty and conversion.
1614 Two minutes to go and the Boks can get a hand on the ball at all. European doggedness v African doggedness in Murrayfield. Europe looking good.
1613 Scotland are in possession and are rucking it slowly to run down the clock.
1611 It's all over in Firenze. A late Aussie try from Rocky Elsom, converted by Berrick Barnes killed off the Italian comeback. RESULT: ITALY 14-32 AUSTRALIA.
1610 Scotland win the line-out, but Parks decide to chIp ahead the possession - it's a bad call and the Boks turn over. Kirchner tries to run from deep, but is halted. Four minutes to go in Edinburgh.
1606 Kirchner makes a fantastic break from deep for the Boks and then kicks long. The kick has slightly too much on it and is touched down over the deadball line by the Scots. The play is brought back and from a penalty Scotland kick to the Boks corner. A Scotland try should win this for them.
1603 TRY SOUTH AFRICA: The Boks lineout goes long to number six in the line, actually missing intended target Matfield. Willem Alberts waits and number six in the lineout, pounces and drives over the Scottish line from five yards. However, Patrick Lambie misses the conversion to leave the scores at Scotland 21-17 South Africa (73 minutes).
1601 A rolling maul from South Africa trundles at the line and to the line. In a heap of bodies it is hard to see what is going on, the referee rules that it's a Boks penalty for Scottish hands in the ruck. Morne Steyn kicks for the corner, huge pressure on the Scottish defence here.
1558 The Boks are running it from deep now, keeping their hands on the ball and trying to outsmart the Scots, but they concede another penalty. It's given for the Boks coming over the top in the ruck - it's a very harsh decision and probably the wrong one.
PENALTY: No matter to Scotland, the penalty is right in front of the posts and Parks smacks it over.
Scotland 21-12 South Africa (68 minutes).
1554 It's still looking good for Scotland. The Boks concede a penalty for infringing at the scrum and from wide on the left touchline Parks smacks the eggball through the sticks.
Scotland 18-12 South Africa (65 minutes played).
1553 England are exerting their pressure in London, a Flood penalty puts them 16-8 ahead on 52 minutes.
1551 Eight minutes to go in Firenze and the Italians are clawing their way back against the Wallabies. Backrow sub Robert Barbieri has got the Azzurri's first try of the day on on 71 minutes. The Italians are 14-25 behind - eight minutes left.
1549 England are labouring against Samoa at Twickenham, however, a Matt Banahan try on 47 minutes, converted by Toby Flood has pushed them into a 13-8 lead.
1547 The Boks are error-ridden and it's giving the Scots an 'in'. Lawson kicks the Scots right down to the Boks 22, but the reliable Boks lineout claims the throw to maintain possession. There are 23 minutes to go in Scotland.
1540 Have been watching Scotland v South Africa so far today. Superb effort being put in by the Scots. It's a very physical affair up in Murrayfield as the Scots are engaing in a war or attrition. Richie Vernon has just made a lung-busting run for the Scots, put was stopped by Zane Kirchner.
PENALTY: The Scots' Dan Parks is doing his usual routine though and has kicked them back into a 3 point lead. Scotland 15-12 South Africa.
1514 The teams for today are:
Ireland:
15 Rob Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain)
12 Gordon D'Arcy
11 Luke Fitzgerald
10 Jonathan Sexton
9 Eoin Reddan
1 Cian Healy
2 Rory Best
3 Tom Court
4 Donncha O'Callaghan
5 Mick O'Driscoll
6 Stephen Ferris
7 David Wallace
8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16 Sean Cronin
17 John Hayes
18 Devin Toner
19 Denis Leamy
20 Peter Stringer
21 Ronan O'Gara
22 Keith Earls
New Zealand:
15 Mils Muliaina
14 Cory Jane
13 Conrad Smith
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 Hosea Gear
10 Dan Carter
9 Andy Ellis
1 Tony Woodcock
2 Hika Elliot
3 Owen Franks
4 Anthony Boric
5 Tom Donnelly
6 Jerome Kaino
7 Richie McCaw (captain)
8 Kieran Read
Replacements:
16 Andrew Hore
17 John Afoa
18 Sam Whitelock
19 Liam Messam
20 Alby Mathewson
21 Stephen Donald
22 Sonny Bill Williams
1458 In 23 matches, the first of which was on November 25 1905, Ireland have never beaten their famous rivals. The closest Ireland have come to glory was a 10-10 draw in the old Lansdowne Road on 20 January 1973.
Ireland's dismal November performances against both South Africa and Samoa would suggest that this Saturday will deliver a straighforward win for the All Blacks. One can only hope that the Irish have something in reserve and can surprise New Zealand with a performance that marries intense aggression with ball-in-hand beauty; if they do, they have a chance.
1457 Weekend three of the Guinness Series has arrived and with it comes the most daunting of Ireland's tasks this November: the All Blacks.
