New Zealand turn on style to overcome Ireland

Ireland 13-26 New Zealand

New Zealand ended a nine-year wait to avenge one of their most painful defeats as they comfortably beat Ireland in a Chicago rematch that failed to live up to the pre-game hype.

Having suffered their first ever defeat by Ireland at Soldier Field in 2016, the All Blacks came from behind in an impressive second-half showing to crush Irish hopes of another memorable day in America.

Ireland lost influential forward Tadhg Beirne to a red card after three minutes, and while Tadhg Furlong’s try helped them lead 10-0, Ardie Savea’s fine score brought the All Blacks to within three at the break.

Jack Crowley’s penalty stretched Ireland’s lead to 13-6 early in the second half, but that proved their last score as Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi and Cameron Roigard all crossed to ensure a deserved win for the southern hemisphere giants.

It is a bitterly disappointing result for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell on his return from his British and Irish Lions sabbatical.

New Zealand, however, will be confident of securing a Grand Slam of the northern hemisphere after clinching a third successive win over Ireland.

The pesky narrative that followed Ireland around in the lead-up was that they were undercooked and nowhere near battle-hardened enough to take on an All Blacks team who had played nine Tests since the start of July.

But rustiness had nothing to do with Beirne exiting the field in the third minute following a contentious early flashpoint in a first half dogged by lengthy stoppages.

The Ireland second row, who starred in the British and Irish Lions tour over the summer, was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett after a lengthy television match official (TMO) review

Following a bunker review, it was upgraded to a 20-minute red card, handing Ireland an early hammer blow.

To Ireland’s credit they showed defiance during the period of numerical disparity, with Crowley nailing a penalty after Stuart McCloskey was obstructed while trying to stop a New Zealand counter-attack.

McCloskey, hugely impressive in his first appearance against the All Blacks, was central to the opening try, too, with two carries to help drive Ireland towards the line before Furlong – who also started the 2016 game – finished from close range.

Ireland’s 10-point advantage did not last long. From a line-out, New Zealand worked the ball to Will Jordan and, while the exceptionally prolific full-back was cut down by Josh van der Flier, the All Blacks quickly found Savea, who finished in the corner.

Halfway to an American double, Ireland extended their lead to six points when Crowley knocked over a straightforward penalty, having pulled a more difficult kick to the left a few minutes prior.

But Ireland’s challenge crumbled from there as the All Blacks’ bench made a significant impact, with Williams finishing from close range after New Zealand earned a penalty from Garry Ringrose’s high tackle on Beauden Barrett.

That score edged New Zealand into a 14-13 lead and they were given daylight when Sititi finished off a flowing move involving Barrett and replacement back Damian McKenzie, who had only just been introduced.

With Ireland’s discipline faltering and their players looking increasingly fatigued, New Zealand rubbed salt in their wounds when impressive scrum-half Roigard danced his way through with three minutes left.

Ireland were spared an even worse scoreline when Leicester Fainga’anuku’s try was ruled out right at the death for a forward pass, but it did not change the look of utter deflation on the Irish players’ faces at the end of a deeply dispiriting Soldier Field return.

Farrell must pick his players up for next week’s Dublin Test against Japan, before hosting Australia and South Africa.

New Zealand, meanwhile, travel to Scotland on 8 November before facing England and Wales.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Sheehan 61), Paddy McCarthy (Porter 67), Finlay Bealham (Furlong 60), Iain Henderson (22 for Beirne 20m RC), Caelan Doris (Ryan HIA 32 to h/t, Conan 51), Craig Casey (Gibson-Park 67), Sam Prendergast (Crowley 67), Bundee Aki (McCloskey 57).

New Zealand: Will Jordan; Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell; Scott Barrett (capt), Fabian Holland; Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai.

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho (Taylor 62), Tamaiti Williams (De Groot 48), Pasilio Tosi (Newell 62), Josh Lord (Scott Barrett 3), Wallace Sititi (Parker HIA 29 to h/t, and 60), Cortez Ratima (Roigard 77), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Jordie Barrett 15), Damian McKenzie (Carter 64).

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Damian McKenzie.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)