JOE SCHMIDT REFUSED to be drawn on a number of game-defining decisions which went against his side this afternoon, but Ireland can justifiably feel aggrieved by Jaco Peyper’s performance.
Beauden Barrett’s first-half try was controversially awarded by the Television Match Official before Peyper failed to refer Malakai Fekitoa’s second score when it looked like there was a forward pass in the build-up.
It prompted Ireland captain Rory Best to query the referee’s call but despite the protestations, Peyper stood firm and awarded the try.
There was also controversy surrounding Barrett’s first-half try, which extended the All Blacks’ lead to 14-3.
After cutting through the Irish defence, man of the match Barrett was adjudged to have touched down by the TMO despite no clear evidence that he had grounded the ball under pressure from Johnny Sexton.
“A few bits and pieces didn’t go our way, but we have to look at ourselves and make those bounces of the ball and little decisions go our way by the intent that we show. We just didn’t show it for enough of the game,” Best said afterwards.
“We’ll have to take a large part of that on the chin. But credit to New Zealand, the came out and started the game really strongly and put us under pressure.”
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