Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s clash between Ireland A and All Blacks XV. Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action from the RDS as it happens.
While most of the focus has been on tomorrow’s Test game down the road at Aviva Stadium, there’s still plenty to look forward to tonight with two really exciting teams named.
It should be a cracker. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Here’s how Ireland A line up tonight. A reminder that there’s been some late changes due to Robbie Henshaw dropping out of the senior side for tomorrow’s game with South Africa. Jimmy O’Brien had been due to start for Ireland A but has since been called into the Ireland matchday 23, so Calvin Nash starts in his place and Shane Daly comes onto the Ireland A bench.
- 15. Mike Lowry
- 14. Calvin Nash
- 13. Jamie Osborne
- 12. James Hume
- 11. Jacob Stockdale
- 10. Ciarán Frawley
- 9. Craig Casey (captain)
- 1. Jeremy Loughman
- 2. Dave Heffernan
- 3. Tom O’Toole
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. Gavin Thornbury
- 6. Cian Prendergast
- 7. Nick Timoney
- 8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements:
- 16. Diarmuid Barron
- 17. Dave Kilcoyne
- 18. Marty Moore
- 19. Ross Molony
- 20. Max Deegan
- 21. Caolin Blade
- 22. Jack Crowley
- 23. Shane Daly
And here’s the All Blacks XV team.
The first-ever All Blacks XV team has been named for their clash against Ireland A 🖤 🍀 pic.twitter.com/wFsx8bLjJL
— AllBlacksXV (@AllBlacksXV) November 2, 2022
We are underway at the RDS.
5mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 0
The first scrum of the day sees Ireland get good quick ball out to Ciaran Frawley, who breaks forward but the move soon loses momentum. Ireland get up as far as the All Blacks 22 but turnover the ball and the All Blacks clear down the pitch. Jacob Stockdale recovers possession, his kick is blocked, but Ireland win a penalty and can go back up the pitch. A scrappy enough start to the game.
7mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 0
The All Blacks build a promising looking attacking move off their first scrum of the day and look to move the ball wide right, but the attack breaks down with a loose pass from centre Braydon Ennor, who sends the ball out of play.
Meanwhile Joe McCarthy has just been replaced by Ross Molony for a HIA. An odd moment as McCarthy left the pitch with U2′s Beautiful Day booming out of the PA system.
TRY – Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 7 (Stevenson)
14mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 7
It’s been all New Zealand for the last couple of minutes and they finally make the breakthrough. Damian McKenzie kicks a nice crossfield to Shaun Stevenson, who finds himself in a mismatch with Craig Casey. The winger has no problem collecting the ball to run in the opening score, converted by McKenzie.
20mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 14 (McAlister)
21mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 14
A difficult spell for Andy Farrell’s young team at the moment as the visitors begin to hit their groove. All the rugby is being played in the Ireland half and the All Blacks are putting together some nice passages of play.
They eventually kick to the corner and get their maul going, and while Ireland initially hold out, the All Blacks push over with hooker Brodie McAlister dotting down. McKenzie kicks his second conversion and the All Blacks move 14 points up.
25mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 19 (Stevenson)
27mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 19
Yikes. There a big roar as Ireland kick to the corner and move into the All Blacks 22, but the lineout is overthrown, the All Blacks regain possession and McKenzie tears forward. The attack looks like it might break down for a moment, but they do well to move it wide right, with McKenzie involved again, before Stevenson produces a lovely sidestep to slip past Nick Timoney and score his second of the night. McKenzie’s conversion is just wide.
30mins: Ireland A 0 All Blacks XV 19
Mike Lowry now off for a HIA. He was caught high by TJ Perenara, but referee Matthew Carley felt Lowry slipped into the tackle, so it’s just a penalty.
Yellow card
The All Blacks think they’re in for try number four but play is called back to check an earlier incident, and Luke Jacobson is shown a yellow card for a dangerous clear out on James Hume.
TRY! Ireland 7 (Frawley) All Blacks XV 19
37mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 19
Ireland are on the scoreboard and it’s a beauty. It all started with a clean lineout move just outside the All Blacks’ 22. Ireland eventually move the ball up close the tryline, with a big carry from Gavin Coombes in the buildup, and working off quick ball from Casey, the ball is moved quickly through the hands of Cian Prendergast and Tom O’Toole, who produce to lovely offloads before Frawley crosses under the posts. Frawley then adds the extras. That’s much better from Ireland.
HALF TIME
A strong end to the half for Ireland but they’ve struggled for large parts of that opening period. Starved of the ball for long periods of play, their kicking has been poor under pressure and the lineout has had a few wobbles.
However that late score shows what these players are capable of when their attacking play clicks into gear. Let’s hope to see more of that in the second 40. We’ll be back shortly with all the second half action.
The second half has just kicked off.
TRY: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 26 (Love)
42mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 26
It takes the All Blacks just 31 seconds to score the first try of the second half. Attacking from deep, Stevenson breaks forward with some superb footwork and makes huge yards before playing in Perenara, who in turn finds fullback Ruben Love who has an easy run-in. McKenzie converts and that is quite the start to the second half from the visitors.
Meanwhile Lowry is back on in place of Shane Daly after passing his HIA.
47mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 26
A change at outhalf for Ireland as Jack Crowley comes in for Ciarán Frawley.
52mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 26
A big opportunity as Ireland get a 5 metre scrum following some good pressure deep in the All Blacks’ 22, but the ball is turned over and New Zealand clear. Lowry does really well to keep the ball in play before Ireland kick back into the All Blacks half. The ball eventually goes out for an All Blacks lineout and Andy Farrell takes the opportunity to change his front row – Diarmuid Barron comes in for Dave Heffernan, Dave Kilcoyne for Jeremy Loughman and Marty Moore for Tom O’Toole.
We also have a quick check for a high hit on Lowry, but the referee decides against taking any action, which is not a popular decision with the home crowd.
TRY: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 33 (Ennor)
57mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks 33
Tell you what, these lads can play. It’s another try for the All Blacks and it’s another lovely move. McKenzie delays his pass inside to Gardiner, and then it moves from Lam out to Ennor, who crosses in the corner. McKenzie clips the extras over and this is turning into a very difficult night for Ireland A.
57mins: Ireland A 7 All Blacks XV 33
A couple more changes for Ireland, Shane Daly is on for James Hume, and Max Deegan is in for Gavin Coombes.
TRY: Ireland A 12 (Moore) All Blacks XV 33
60mins: Ireland A 12 All Blacks XV 38
Try number two for Ireland. Casey snipes off lineout maul, but has no luck. Ireland then tap and go and eventually Moore finds room to power over. Crowley snaps the conversion attempt wide.
TRY: Ireland A 12 All Blacks XV 40
The All Blacks hit back straight away. Tuivasa-Sheck intercepts a pass which leads to Lam crossing in the corner. McKenzie converts.
70mins: Ireland A 12 All Blacks XV 40
Another unpopular call as Jamie Osborne’s pass out to Stockdale is deemed to have gone forward. The game slowing down a bit now as the All Blacks empty their bench.
TRY: Ireland A 12 All Blacks XV 47 (McKenzie)
75mins: Ireland A 12 All Blacks XV 47
Another try for the All Blacks and they again make it look so easy. This time Josh Ioane takes possession in the New Zealand half, cuts inside Timony and Moore with ease and leaves McKenzie with the simply finish in open space. The All Blacks 10 kicks the extras and large clusters of the crowd head for the exits.
TRY! Ireland A 19 (Deegan) All Blacks XV 47
79mins: Ireland A 19 All Blacks XV 47
Calvin Nash looks like he’s going to run out of ground, but produces a wonderful behind the back pass inside to Prendergast, who is quickly flattened. Ireland do well to recycle the ball quickly and Deegan gets over for Ireland’s third try of the night thanks to great work by Nash. Crowley converts.
80mins: Ireland A 19 All Blacks XV 47
Another unpopular decision, this time after second row Tuipulotu flattens Crowley – a mismatch to begin with. The referee is happy enough and the All Blacks go in search of another late score with the clock in the red.
FULLTIME: Ireland A 19 All Blacks XV 47
So that’s that then on a really difficult night for a young Ireland A team against an All Blacks XV littered with full internationals.
It was a tough experience for many of the Ireland players, but Farrell will point to the positives, with these players at the very least getting a taste of what is required when you step up to international level.
Thanks for joining our live coverage tonight. Murray Kinsella’s match report will be following on The42 and we’ll also have all the reaction from Andy Farrell at the RDS.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and we’ll catch you again for the big one at Aviva Stadium tomorrow.
