Even against a raging Ireland, All Blacks find a way

The radio ads for Friday night’s production of Alone it Stands in Dublin, the play depicting the events surrounding Munster’s historic win over New Zealand in 1978, was marketed as the last ever staging of the show.

Even they recognised it was time for new Irish rugby heroes to emerge.

When its comes to writing rugby history, however, nobody does it better than New Zealand. To have the confidence, composure and belief to produce a winning try of the quality delivered by Ryan Crotty at the death of yesterday’s Aviva Stadium cliff-hanger explains just why they have been the leading side in the game for so long. The All Blacks just refuse to be beaten and always play to the very last second. In the visitors dressing room there were no high fives, no champagne corks popping; just life as it is meant to be.