Ireland end 111-year wait for first win over All Blacks
Ireland’s class of 2016 stamped their names into the history books as Joe Schmidt’s side dispatched New Zealand in Chicago for their first victory over the All Blacks in 111 years of trying. Three days after the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year drought to land baseball’s World Series, Ireland lit up the city’s Soldier Field stadium with their maiden win over the All Blacks at the 29th attempt.
New Zealand’s record-breaking winning run was halted at 18 Tests – their last defeat was by Australia in August 2015 – after the Irish were forced to hold off a ferocious fightback in the second half, which saw the All Blacks recover from a 30-8 deficit after 46 minutes to go within four points at 33-29. Unlike in 2013 when Ireland surrendered a 22-7 lead in a 24-22 defeat, this time Schmidt’s men held on. With the majority of fans in a sell-out crowd roaring them on, the Irish scored a fifth and decisive try in the 76th minute from blockbusting centre Robbie Henshaw, converted by replacement flyhalf Joey Carbery, to clinch a famous victory.
Ireland captain Rory Best said: “You can see how much it means to our boys to have won that. We just had to go out and attack them. If you give them ball and stand off them they’re an unbelievably dangerous outfit. I couldn’t be prouder of the work we’ve put in over the last couple of weeks. It’s been a long time coming and history [has been] made. We’re absolutely ecstatic.”
Ireland drew first blood through Johnny Sexton’s early penalty, only for George Moala to register a controversial try on video review, with officials ignoring Kieran Read’s clear high tackle on CJ Stander. New Zealand led 5-3 owing to Beauden Barrett’s missed conversion, but were quickly reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. Prop Joe Moody eventually was sent to the sin bin for dangerously upending Henshaw at a ruck.
Ireland punted the penalty to the corner, and drove flanker Jordi Murphy home. Sexton’s touchline conversion wrestled Ireland a 10-5 lead in the 11th minute and they quickly doubled their try count, taking full advantage of another high tackle.
Sexton’s peerless line punt to the corner set up another five-metre lineout. Rob Kearney cut the line tidily in the 13 channel and Stander powered home. Beauden Barrett’s penalty left Ireland leading 15-8 after 20 minutes.
Sexton then slotted his second penalty, to put Ireland 18-8 up, but they lost Murphy to a suspected serious knee injury. Ireland had entirely bossed possession and territory in a hugely-impressive opening half-hour, and Conor Murray scampered through for the third try with Sexton’s conversion putting them 25-8 to the good. They held that lead until the break.
Sexton’s delayed flat pass then gifted Simon Zebo a walk-in try, further stunning the All Blacks. Replacement TJ Perenara raced in for their second score and Scott Barrett’s conversion cut Ireland’s lead to 30-15. No sooner had New Zealand shifted Ben Smith to the right wing, though, than he touched down acrobatically in the corner. Beauden Barrett slotted the touchline conversion.
Then, with Sexton receiving treatment for cramp, scrum-half Murray stepped up with a penalty to edge Ireland’s lead to 33-22. Sexton was then forced out through potential injury, leaving 20-year-old Carbery to make one of the highest-pressure debuts.
Scott Barrett marked his own debut with New Zealand’s fourth try, with brother Beauden converting to cut Ireland’s deficit to just four points.
The omens amid the All Blacks’ recovery only continued to grow but with time running out Zebo cut loose and then punted deep, Ireland forcing Julian Savea to touch down for a fivemetre scrum from which Henshaw powered home for Ireland’s victorysealing score, converted by Carbery.