Confident display boosts morale

New Zealand 34 Ireland 23

Ultimately, it came down to possession and the time spent with the ball at the Waikato Stadium.

Ireland tackled themselves to a standstill, dug deep into their admirable defensive resources, and also got a couple of ace-high tries. They were inches, or a pass, away from two more.

New Zealand scored the opener inside a minute and many teams might have capitulated there and then. They didn’t, and the headlines in yesterday’s New Zealand papers screamed abuse at this revered home sporting side.

“Shamrocked” was appropriate, and the New Zealand Herald on Sunday believed the All Blacks were: “Paddy Whacked”.

There were no serious injuries, and there’s a genuine belief in the Irish camp that, with a 10-15% improvement in possession, they have a decent chance next Saturday here in Auckland.

To do that, they have to get a few things right. New Zealand clearly showed Ireland respect by taking no less than four quick line-out throws in the second half, all down to the fact that Ireland snatched two against the throw in the opening minutes.

Ireland need to have chasing players in the area where Ronan O’Gara finds touch to ensure New Zealand are kept honest, and must improve at scrums.

But there is plenty to be positive about. New Zealand had two-thirds of the possession in the first half, but ran into a brick wall of Irish defenders out wide and through the middle. When teams like the all Blacks string ten phases of play together they expect to score. The effort was phenomenal. If that sounds like Ireland were under the cosh all night, that wasn’t the case. They were seven points down after 40 seconds but eight ahead at the break.

The disappointment was acute, but the resolve encouraging. “The good thing about this is that we have an opportunity to put it right next week,” said captain Brian O’Driscoll. You wouldn’t have heard that from an Irishman in New Zealand a decade ago. They would have been waiting in dread of a huge New Zealand backlash.

Paul O’Connell, the inspirational second row, will back his side to win more lineout possession in Auckland; they will be looking to O’Gara to be more accurate with his line kicking, and Brian O’Driscoll’s return to form is so timely that he will ask major questions of this experimental All Blacks side.

New Zealand winger Doug Howlett fireballed the opening when he scorched in for a try within a minute to put the All Blacks five points in front. Luke McAlister missed the conversion and a further kicking opportunity before O’Driscoll put Ireland back on level terms with a marvellous try, created after Denis Leamy won a lineout, and Stringer and O’Gara combined to send the captain away.

At the three-quarter way mark, Ireland were still two to the good, but first McAlister kicked a 30th-minute penalty and then Troy Flavell took advantage of a breakaway from Ma’a Nonu to score a try that McAlister converted.

IRELAND: G. Murphy, S. Horgan, B. O’Driscoll (captain), G. D’Arcy, A. Trimble, R. O’Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, J. Flannery, J. Hayes, D. O’Callaghan, P. 0’Connell, S. Best, D. Leamy, D. Wallace.

Replacements: M. O’Driscoll for Best, K. Gleeson for Wallace (both 73), G. Dempsey for Murphy (injured, 75).

NEW ZEALAND: M. Muliaina, D. Howlett, M. Nonu, A. Mauger, J. Rokocoko, L. McAlister, B. Kelleher, C. Dermody, K. Mealamu, C. Hayman, C. Jack, G. Rawlinson, M. Holah, R. Do’Oialo, R. McCaw (captain).

Replacements: J. Cowan for Kelleher (39, injured), T. Flavell for Rawlinson (60)

Referee: S. Dickinson (Australia).