Kiwi coach admits side were lucky

New Zealand coach John Mitchell admits his side were fortunate to keep their 97-year unbeaten record against Ireland intact in their opening Test in Dunedin.

The Kiwis were ruffled by the Irish and needed a late try from Leon McDonald to secure a 15-6 win.

It was far from easy for New Zealand, whose starting line-up included 13 players from the all-conquering Super 12 Crusaders side.

"It can be awful as a coach sometimes when it doesn't go to plan and it certainly didn't go to plan," said Mitchell in the Sunday Star Times.

"We will be better for this and, yes, we were lucky to get out of it. But let's give Ireland some credit. They played well.

"People talk about their passion and emotion, but they are a better side than just that now - they are well organised and played a structured game. They prevented us from playing but we coughed up a lot of ball and they were able to feed off that."

"But, hey, we got the result and that's all that matters right now. Some nights you might have to win by one point and take that. We got more points than them and that's what the game is about. We came up against more resistance and that will continue in this next match.

"We will have to get better and that's a simple equation. I can understand that as New Zealanders we expect perfection from our All Blacks. We are not there yet but we are striving for it. We are certainly going to work for it."