Summer Tour: New Zealand 22 Ireland 19

Where do you start after a game like that?

I suppose I should start with an apology to Mike Ross (see above) who played a full part in a much improved team performance from Ireland, a performance where, for large periods of the game, the Irish were the better team in an extraordinary turn around from last weeks one sided game.

After last weeks capitulation, Ireland really only had one way to go, but by no stretch of the imagination did I expect such a turnaround. Initially, there was a touch of complacency in the All Blacks camp but full credit must be given to every Irish player for raising their intensity to produce an enthralling contest. However, the Irish will be kicking themselves that they did not come away with an historic first ever win against New Zealand.

As the game approached the final minutes with the score reading 19 all it was Ireland who looked to be in the ascendancy but it was the home side that kept their composure and, aided by the capitulation of the officials, the All Blacks engineered a last gasp drop goal to win the game 22 – 19. A cruel lesson for Ireland but big teams find a way to win.

Ireland started the game well showing a great deal more cohesion than last week and following a period of sustained pressure in the New Zealand 22 scrum half Conor Murray spotted a gap and stretched for the line to touch down for a 10th-minute try.

Sexton added the conversion and a penalty to give Ireland a 10-0 lead with the All Blacks looking rattled from the ferocity of Ireland’s opening. However Ireland went off the boil after the opening 20 minutes and as the All Blacks’ intensity grew the home side forced errors at the breakdown, closing the gap through three penalties.

Ireland managed to take a 10 – 9 lead into the break but my feeling was that New Zealand would dominate the second half as Ireland tired after their long season.

That wasn’t to be the case and, despite going behind to a converted Aaron Smith try, Ireland continued to attack with Sexton adding his second penalty in another strong attacking period that brought the score to 16 – 13.

Momentum swung one way and another with Carter adding a fourth penalty to extend the All Blacks’ lead to 19-13 but Ireland hit back with two more Sexton penalties to take the score to 19 – 19 as the game approached the last ten minutes.

New Zealand were rattled and when Israel Dagg was yellow-carded for a late charge on Rob Kearney it looked as though Ireland had a fantastic chance of an historic win, but it wasn’t to be. With the scores level and a man down it was the All Blacks who rallied one last time, albeit with the aid of a few dubious decisions from the officials, and that man Carter was there to knock over the decisive score.

IRELAND: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Dan Tuohy, Donnacha Ryan, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donncha O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony,  Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Simon Zebo.

The Ireland team to play New Zealand in the second Test of the summer tour has been named. The selected side shows four changes to the one that took to the pitch in Auckland last weekend.

Don’t know if it’s worthwhile getting up to watch this one but then again car crash TV has it’s on strangely compelling attractions!

In a bold move for the future Gordon D’Arcy starts at inside centre in place of Keith Earls, who was not considered for selection due to a chest injury that he picked up in the first Test defeat to the All Blacks. D’Arcy’s selection reunites his centre partnership with Brian O’Driscoll as the Leinster duo line out as Ireland’s starting centres for the 48th time.

Elsewhere in the back-line, Andrew Trimble comes onto the left wing in place of Simon Zebo who is named in the replacements at the expense of Darren Cave.

Kevin McLaughlin, who came on in the second half of the tour opener, is named in the starting back row, with Peter O’Mahony swapping places to drop to the bench.

The fit-again Mike Ross comes back into the team in place of Declan Fitzpatrick at tighthead prop. Fitzpatrick will provide cover on the bench instead of Ronan Loughney.

Saturday’s match in Christchurch will mark Jamie Heaslip’s 50th Test appearance for Ireland. The Naas man is the 19th Irish forward to pass through the half century mark, the last of which was hooker Rory Best against England last August.

I suspect another sound beating for Ireland in this one but at least with Cave, Henry and Marshall not involved we may get then back pretty early in the season.

IRELAND: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Dan Tuohy, Donnacha Ryan, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donncha O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony,  Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Simon Zebo.