It was a match where the weather demonstrated before the kick-off that there would not be a blow-out score. New Zealand and Ireland could both call themselves wet weather specialists – and two of the more polished kicking five eighths (fly-halves) in world rugby displayed their wares in a game that was never going to be flamboyant and was an intriguing arm wrestle.

Credit to the Irish.  Their game plan was effective and Ronan O’Gara’s kicking game was the better by a points decision. The defensive determination, led by an all-Munster tight ruck defence – was difficult for the New Zealanders to penetrate, especially considering less space afforded to teams under the traditional laws. 

The ELVs - rules that the Southern Hemisphere have been playing under for over three months – clearly gave an advantage to the Irish, who have not had to operate under changes that are designed to open a game up.

'The Irish, on the back of a terrible World Cup and average Six Nations, look as if they may have finally turned the corner'


It was the best performance by an Irish national side in 12 months. They knew they could end a 103-year drought against the men in Black, and they certainly ran them close.

Despite their Heineken Cup-winning pack, Ireland found that an All Black eight is a far more imposing proposition than any European forward unit.  By the end of the game, the 2008 hybrid of the New Zealand forwards were clear victors. They constantly made inroads through the vaunted Munster pillar defence, and were clearly dominant in the scrum exchanges. The lineout, so often a weak point of the All Black game, dominated a lineout that was most ascendant operation in Europe. 

The tackle area was ferociously contested, with the green wall showing magnificent poise against what is realistically the world’s foremost attacking team. Richie McCaw cemented his position as the best openside flanker on the planet in a possessed concerto. His defence and ruck turnovers were magnificent; a true “follow me to the trenches, men” performance to end his World Cup nightmares. 

Aside from a poor defensive read on their own line when Paddy Wallace scored a soft try, the All Black rearguard system was solid – with Rodney So’oialo backing up his captain, and the new midfield of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith shutting down any second phase Irish movement.

No player on either side had a weak game. If there was truly a difference between the teams it was ultimately in the backline, where Ireland's Brian O’Driscoll-led threequarters rarely touched the ball. However, sublime touches by his opposite number Smith, who embarrassed his illustrious opponent, led to the creation of a try by Sitiveni Sivivatu.  In the second half, Dan Carter – showing his class as a running fly-half, made a scything line-break through the Irish defensive heart, where tight forwards Ali Williams and John Schwalger linked with the menacing Nonu, who scored the match breaker.

The All Blacks won - which, after a disastrous World Cup and a build-up media week where the darlings of New Zealand were knocked at every pass, was all they needed. Neemia Tialata had a titanic game which showed that Carl Hayman’s loss may not be keenly felt – which was backed by a classic hunting pack performance that showed that, as always, the All Black forwards will be a threat to any nation they play. 

The backline, on a night where backs were spending most time thinking of how to avoid hypothermia – showed enough for the contentious midfield positions to maybe be a thing of the past.

England may have a stronger pack than the Irish, but whether they can mount as effective a challenge against the All Blacks remains to be seen.  The much-feared honeymoon game of the World Cup is now over, and the New Zealanders will become mightier with each week together; especially if Graham Henry avoids his famed rotations.

Meanwhile, the Irish, on the back of a terrible World Cup and average Six Nations, look as if they may have finally turned the corner.  They were not shamed in this performance, and if the weather is poor against the Wallabies – notoriously bad wet-weather performers – they will back themselves to record a tour win and finish their season on a high. 

Redemption is a word not used often, but to record their first win on Australian soil in 29 years would justify its application.