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| Kieran Read Surveys The Field During The All Blacks Last Gasp Win |
Early pressure was put on by the All Blacks, however, it was pressure Ireland weathered with Sexton able to clear his lines following a 5m lineout. From there Ireland were able to put on a period of pressure resulting in a 5m lineout of their own where Connor Murray managed to bundle a try over following a rolling maul in the 11th minute with Jonathan Sexton converting the try. Some good defence following their try led to Ireland again winning penalties in New Zealand's half with Julian Savea holding on and Owen Franks blocking on a box kick. Leinster fly half Jonny Sexton was able to take advantage of the second of the offences putting Ireland 10 points ahead after 20 minutes.
Quickly after the kick off though Ireland broke the golden rule of scoring, giving away a penalty and allowing the metronomic Dan Carter to get New Zealand on the scoreboard. Carter was able to knock over two more penalties by the 33rd minute, putting the hosts only one point behind at half time.
New Zealand started the second half with intent, Aaron Smith forcing his way over after two minutes, Dan Carter predictably scoring the conversion also. Sexton, however, was able to respond quickly afterwards scoring a penalty and closing the gap to only three points. What followed was 20 minutes of pure attrition, Dan Carter threw poor passes and Richie McCaw began to drop balls as Ireland's rush defence along with the superb Sean O'Brien began to produce results. Despite this Dan Carter was able to kick a goal on the hour mark putting New Zealand 6 points ahead with only a quarter of the match left to play.
A massive Irish scrum gave Sexton a chance to claw back points on 63 minutes which he duly converted leading to an exceedingly hard fought and tense 15 minutes. Ireland began to put their foot on their gas with Jonny Sexton making a break down field before calmly putting through a grubber kick to force a line out in New Zealand's 22. Ireland's pressure continued to push New Zealand and Sexton kicked another penalty drawing the game level with 10 minutes to go.
With 8 minutes to go Israel Dagg deliberately blocked Rob Kearney after a high ball giving away a penalty just inside the Kiwis half as well as getting a yellow card giving Ireland a man advantage for the rest of the game. Sexton was unable to kick the penalty but the clearing kick from Weepu was poor allowing an Ireland lineout from just outside the All Blacks 22. Despite the position Ireland knocked on giving away a scrum which produced a penalty for New Zealand allowing Dan Carter to clear the ball downfield.
From the lineout New Zealand forced a position for Dan Carter to drop goal, he missed but the ball was touched leading to a hugely tense 5m scrum. Read drove a no more than a metre from the scrum, Weepu threw a perfect pass to Carter sitting in the pocked who then slotted a drop goal in the cruelest of circumstances.
Following the game Richie McCaw expressed 'relief' but their was no denial he was in an old fashioned dog fight. The Irish came so close to a fantastic win and probably deserved it. They were perhaps on the wrong end of a Nigel Owens scrum decision allowing Carter to kick downfield but if Sexton had perhaps taken his 50 metre penalty then Ireland could have won the game. Either way Ireland were the better team and can hold their head high this weekend.
Key Battles
Ross v Woodock
Despite winning the first scrum against the head Woodcock was beaten by Ross today. Big scrums allowed Ireland to get in touching distance of a win with Ross performing better in the loose all day.
Verdict - Ross
O'Brien v McCaw
Only one winner here, Sean O'Brien had an absolute stormer of a game. The man with no number manifested the dogged Irish spirit stealing ball and disrupting the ruck as well as smashing Dan Carter in the first half just to prove who was on top for the game. McCaw on the other hand was off the boil dropping two balls and not being himself at the breakdown. Either way it was an epic battle that we look forward to next week for part 3.
Verdict - O'Brien
Sexton v Carter
Jonny Sexton scored 5 from 6 last night but missed the crucial kick from 50 metres. Despite this he was far and away the better of the two fly halves. Carter did prove his weight in gold with a drop goal but that really was the highlight of an unconvincing game from the fly half. Sexton finally brought Leinster form to the world stage and deserves his plaudits.
Verdict - Sexton
Man of The Match - Sean O'Brien
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