Brave Ireland suffer Blackout

Ireland 3 New Zealand 25: The fairytale did not happen but neither did the nightmare.

In the end, it was just another defeat to New Zealand, another sobering night against the aristocrats of the game, the 22-point margin the same as a year ago in New Zealand, when Ireland were fighting for third place.

Ireland made a battle of it for over half an hour but then New Zealand opened up and buried Ireland either side of the break with the sort of powerful rugby which has brought many a team to their knees.