The All Blacks continued their winning sequence with a convincing victory over a gutsy Ireland. New Zealand led 19-13 at half-time thanks to an Anthony Boric try and 14 points from the boot of Dan Carter. With Stephen Ferris scoring a try on 31 minutes and Jonathan Sexton making his kicks it was game on for Ireland at this time.
However, it was the men in Black who kicked on in the second half and with Kieran Read scoring two tries and Sam Whitelock one, plus Carter converting two, the visitors were away and clear. Ireland did have the excitement of a score from skipper Brian O’Driscoll but they were Ireland’s only second-half points. So a much improved Ireland performance but they still went down to the final score of:
Ireland 18-38 New Zealand
Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Ferris, O’Driscoll Pens: Sexton 2 Cons: Sexton
New Zealand
Tries: Boric, Read 2, Whitelock Pens: Carter 4 Cons: Carter 3
Teams
Ireland: 15-Robert Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Brian O’Driscoll (captain), 12-Gordon D’Arcy, 11-Luke Fitzgerald, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Eoin Reddan; 1-Cian Healy, 2-Rory Best, 3-Tom Court, 4-Donncha O’Callaghan, 5-Mick O’Driscoll, 6-Stephen Ferris, 7-David Wallace, 8-Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-John Hayes, 18-Devin Toner, 19-Denis Leamy, 20-Peter Stringer, 21-Ronan O’Gara, 22-Keith Earls.
New Zealand: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Cory Jane, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma’a Nonu, 11-Hosea Gear, 10-Daniel Carter, 9-Andy Ellis; 1-Tony Woodcock, 2-Hikawera Elliot, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Anthony Boric, 5-Tom Donnelly, 6-Jerome Kaino, 7-Richie McCaw, 8-Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16-Andrew Hore, 17-John Afoa, 18-Sam Whitelock 19-Liam Messam, 20-Alby Mathewson, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Sonny Bill Williams.
Referee: Marius Jonker