World champions put through the mill in brutal Dublin battle
As I say, New Zealand’s defence was desperate at times. But somehow they found a way to keep Ireland out. People will go on about New Zealand’s attacking threat; the fact that they scored three tries off such little possession. And that is a valid point.
As ever, they were ruthless when they got a sniff. But it was the fact that they denied Ireland a try despite the hosts having so much possession which, in my opinion, won them the game.
The biggest games are won by defence. The All Blacks scored four tries in Chicago but lost because they conceded five. Here they were determined not to let that happen again. At times they had to get pretty street smart to keep Ireland out.
Giving away a penalty for 14-6 when Ireland had that scrum near their line midway through the first half. High tackles. Bodies on the line. They rode their luck at times. But they also earned it.
Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock – absent in Chicago – were influential; massive in defence, big carries, linking play, keeping out Ireland’s driving maul on more than one occasion.
As I said last week, the biggest development in world rugby in the last 10 months has come in the second row. Retallick and Whitlock were phenomenal. And when they had their chances, of course, they took them. Barrett did not have his best game in Chicago but last night you could see why he won World Player of the Year. He was electric. But it was the whole team really; from one to 15. Collectively, when the All Blacks get even a half-break, they just seem to go into another mode.
They keep cool heads even as the pace of their play rises and the offloads start flying. That is what sets them apart from any other team in world rugby. Their third try – despite the hint of a forward pass – was just sensational as Anton Lienert-Brown’s initial break was followed by brilliant handling from Barrett and Aaron Cruden, leading finally to a round-thecorner pass to Fekitoa. Even in the final minute, with the game already won, the All Blacks were pouring forward. And rather than celebrate at the final whistle, they looked thoroughly disappointed not to have scored a fourth with the final play of the game.