Player ratings: Ireland's Joe McCarthy shines in defeat to All Blacks

Andy Farrell's side rounded out their tour with a loss to New Zealand in Auckland. 

New Zealand's Cameron Roigard during a scrum. Pic: INPHO/Photosport/Craig Butland

15 – Hugo Keenan 

It was just as well that it was a mild winter’s evening in Auckland for there were long stretches where Keenan could only watch as the black shirts bore down towards him but the full-back finally got a chance to go through his paces in attack with an easy run-in try. 6 

14 – Rob Baloucoune 

Starvation rations for the Ulster wing with Baloucoune not receiving his first pass until the 26th minute forcing him to go looking for ball wherever he could find it. And he did so, refusing to yield and marshalling his opposite number, Josh Moorby, well 6

13 – Garry Ringrose 

Fallible in much of what he had to do, Ringrose made uncharacteristic errors, spurning an overlap, held up and turning over ball, dropping a pass too. A chastening evening but he did not throw in the towel. 4

12 – Stuart McCloskey 

A horrible experience encapsulated when throwing a pass straight into the path of the most potent finisher New Zealand has ever known, Will Jordan gobbling up the ball for one of the easiest of his 51 test tries. Like many of his teammates, the inaccuracy of the handling was to cost Ireland dear. 4

11 - Jimmy O’Brien 

In the wars from the off, leaving the field for blood and then seeing his replacement also suffering, O’Brien stuck to the task once he was back on the field but under the cosh along with his teammates. 5 

10 – Sam Prendergast

Wobbly. Stuck at it after several flawed moments, a couple of passes going straight into touch. However, the Leinster out-half kept his head high, spiralling a terrific touch-finder to the New Zealand five metre line and from that position throwing the try-scoring pass to Keenan. Blotted copybook again with poor penalty clearance. The out-half conundrum remains unresolved. 4 

9 – Jamison Gibson-Park 

Sharp, darting from the base in an attempt to generate pace into the Ireland attack, but it was a forlorn mission, the scrum-half succumbing to the pressure firing one poor pass through the legs of Beirne. Upped the tempo in the second-half. 6 

1 – Tom O’Toole 

There was little between the packs in the set-piece, albeit Ireland did concede a couple of free-kicks for infringements. O’Toole put his shoulder to the wheel around the field as the All Blacks looked to drive through them. 5 

2 – Dan Sheehan (capt) 

A very challenging match for the tyro Ireland captain as he looked to hold things together as New Zealand were poised to blow them away, Sheehan’s burgeoning influence showed in the way his team’s defence gave it their all in the second half. Lineout better, too. 6 

3 – Tadhg Furlong 

Put in a trademark shift in all that he was required to do, Furlong’s ability to apply himself in the close-quarter physical exchanges proved so important as the big New Zealand carriers tried to hammer through at every turn. 5 

4 – Joe McCarthy 

A mightily spirted display, full of fierceness but also thoughtfulness, McCarthy was a match for the All Blacks power game, getting a deserved try for his efforts The disruptor was soon fulfilling his Argentina-football type role, niggling and off-putting the opposition with his fiery presence, one of the few big players in green. 7 

5 – James Ryan 

Little moments, big consequences. One simple spill of the ball from Ryan at one end of the field with Ireland on the move and moments later his second-row opponent is scoring down the other end. Ryan didn’t manage to impose himself. 4 

6 – Tadhg Beirne 

All at sea as Ardie Savea broke from a scrum, it was a sobering moment for the whole-hearted Beirne who could do little to halt the All Blacks as they swamped Ireland in the first half in particular. 5 

7 – Josh van der Flier 

Hung in there, game as ever, absorbing the wild smash to the head from the very lucky All Black flanker, Luke Jacobson, who ought to have been red-carded, van der Flier was soon back in productive action winning a turnover. Losing cause, however. 5 

8 – Jack Conan 

A hearty performance in adversity, scuffling and never giving up, illustrated by the no.8 offering himself for the pass that saw him crash through for a much-needed Ireland try in the first half. 6 

Replacements 

The bench helped prevent the scoreboard from running away from Ireland which it most certainly threatened to do. The replacements were early into the action as injuries forced Ireland into an immediate reshuffle down the left flank with Jimmy O’Brien leaving the field for blood, followed by the man who came on for him, Ciaran Frawley. Both returned to play their part in what was an improved Ireland performance, clutching at straws as that may seem with New Zealand defending their Eden Park record, claiming maximum bonus points and denying Ireland even the consolation of their own bonus point. A long, long season for Ireland and their Lions finally came to a close. 6