Ireland make history with victory over All Blacks to level series
Second Test
New Zealand 12-23 Ireland
Two tries from Andrew Porter and 13 points from Johnny Sexton saw Ireland record a historic 23-12 win over the All Blacks in New Zealand after Angus Ta’avao’s red card, levelling the three-Test series at 1-1.
A chaotic first half saw Porter score just three minutes in, All Blacks wing Leicester Fainga’anuku yellow carded – and fortunate not to be sent off for a leading shoulder to the face of Ireland wing Mack Hansen – and then tighthead Ofa Tu’ungafasi also sin-binned for a tackle off the ball on Garry Ringrose, an incident which should have seen Ireland awarded a penalty try.
That all proceeded Ta’avao’s red card after a TMO review, due to a sickening head-on-head clash with Ringrose, leaving South African referee Jaco Peyper little option but to dismiss the replacement prop after 31 minutes.
Despite facing 14 men for the majority of a first half they dominated, 13 for some time – and what should have been 12 for a play when uncontested scrums came as a result of the red card (it later turned out New Zealand kept 13 on at this point) – Ireland failed to add to their score before the break.
It appeared significant when Beauden Barrett got over for an All Blacks try in the final play of their first half in virtually their first attack, as Ireland second row James Ryan was sin-binned for repeated infringements.
Despite the opening nine minutes of the second half starting 14 vs 14, it was Ireland who began to dictate play again, as Porter powered over for his second try, before skipper Sexton added two further penalties to seal success.
Ireland arrived at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin seeking to create history and to take their three-Test series to a deciding game.
Ireland, as they did last week in the opening Test, started fast and led 10-0 at the midway point of the first half as Porter showed his power to leap over after a period of sustained Irish pressure.
Sexton converted before landing a long-range penalty to increase the lead, before the All Blacks were then temporarily reduced to 14 men after wing Fainga’anuku was sin-binned for a late challenge on Hansen – leading with a tucked shoulder and seeming to connect with the Ireland wing’s face.
Ta’avao was brought on as cover for Tu’ungafasi, and then promptly found himself sent off as, having escaped a red card for the Fainga’anuku challenge and a penalty try for the Tu’ungafasi act, the All Blacks would not get lucky a third time as replays showed Ta’avao clatter into Ringrose, head-on-head at pace.
Ta’avao was left bloodied by his challenge, while the stricken Ringrose also departed the field, failing a HIA and remaining off for the rest of the Test, as Bundee Aki replaced him.
Despite their numerical advantage, a combination of Irish profligacy and New Zealand heart and nous somehow saw the visitors fail to add to their lead, before Beauden Barrett struck after a fortunate ricochet off a leg saw the ball pop forward out of a ruck under the sticks, and land for the out-half to score.
Brother Jordie Barrett added the conversion to leave the half-time score an improbable 10-7, while Ireland vice-captain Ryan had moments earlier been shown a yellow card for repeated Ireland infringements near their own line.
Ireland began the second period with control, though, as Porter bulldozed over to claim his second score, and when Sexton added a penalty soon after the Ireland lead was 20-7 with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Sexton struck for one further penalty to leave the All Blacks far too much to do, with a late Will Jordan try purely consolation.
Ireland conclude their three-Test series vs the All Blacks in a week’s time on Saturday, July 16, with an 8:05 am kickoff.
That Test is in Wellington – the scene of the British and Irish Lions’ Test victory over the All Blacks in 2017 – as Ireland, having made history with a first ever win in New Zealand, now seek an unprecedented series victory.
