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All Blacks score tough victory over Ireland

The All Blacks have held out all Irish resistance to score a 23-13 win and end the home team's run of 19 consecutive victories at Aviva Stadium, in Dublin.
All Blacks first-five Damian McKenzie had one of his best games for the side in the victory over Ireland in Dublin. PHOTO: NZ RUGBY

The All Blacks have held out all Irish resistance to score a 23-13 win and end the home team's run of 19 consecutive victories at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.


Both sides scored a try each, however, the Irish’s lack of discipline on Friday (Saturday NZ Time), especially in their own half, allowed first-five and man of the match Damian McKenzie to land six penalties.


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In the face of those frustrating Irish tactics at the breakdown, where they attempted to slow down the running game, the All Blacks never lost their poise and looked the far more accomplished side under that pressure.


They capitalised on a poor Irish lineout to secure the ball in critical situations, while the vaunted Ireland defence still slipped 30 tackles in making much of the play.


Problems with their final quarter were eliminated, with the winning advantage coming in the 68th minute when fullback Will Jordan crossed for his 37th test try in his 39th appearance.


Ireland claimed a solitary momentum boost when scoring two minutes into the second half when the All Blacks were reduced to 14, having lost second-five Jordie Barrett to the sin-bin in the last minute of the first half.


Flanker Josh van der Flier scored after Ireland built from a penalty kick to the corner and a five-metre scrum.


But that momentum slipped away within minutes as McKenzie landed three of his penalty goals to regain an 18-13 lead, and with the infusion of fresh players, there was solidity and experience in the scrum and lineouts that took Ireland out of the contest.


In their bid to get back in the game, the Irish made two knock-ons, allowing the All Blacks to pounce and get their running game going and away from the close-quarter infringements that stymied their chances to develop.


Replacement first-five Ciaran Frawley knocked a ball on and then chose a poor kick option.


Jordie Barrett took the kick, and momentum was built with flanker Wallace Sititi strong again to wing Mark Tele'a who kept the ball alive to McKenzie for a long pass to Sititi, then Asafo Aumua put Jordan in for the try.


The game started out as in typical hard-fought contest as each side matched up against each before the visitors slowly started gaining some ascendancy.


They enjoyed 63 (58 at full-time) percent possession. They also created two scoring opportunities, the first when McKenzie found space with a possible chance for wing Mark Tele'a, but McKenzie did not make the transfer, and Ireland cleared.


Then later, after a penalty kick to the corner, a not-straight lineout throw was ruled against Aumua.


Throughout, the All Blacks ran the ball and made 71 carries to 50 by Ireland, with the home team having to make 153 tackles compared to 100 by the All Blacks, who missed only 14 tackles to 30.


Ireland pressured halfback Cortez Ratima, securing a charge down on one occasion and disrupting his passing from the base on others.


But it was at risk, and several times, Ireland was penalised for not rolling away in tackle situations, the penalty count against them being 5-3 at the turn.


However, in the last act of the first half, Ireland pulled within three points when first-five Jack Crowley landed his second penalty goal after All Blacks second-five Jordie Barrett was sin-binned for foul play, shoulder contact to head.


That was consequential two minutes into the second half, after an obstruction was ruled in the fielding of the kick-off.


While Ireland lost the goal line lineout, they pinned flanker Sam Cane in-goal, and from the five-metre scrum, they built pressure before flanker Josh van der Flier scored.


All Blacks 23 (Will Jordan try; Damian McKenzie 6 pen) Ireland 13 (Josh van der Flier try; Jack Crowley con, 2 pen). HT: 9-6

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