Sean Farrell reports from Soldier Field, Chicago
Ireland 40
New Zealand 29
IRELAND ENDED A 111-year wait for their first win over New Zealand with a momentous performance against the back-to-back world champions in Chicago.
A thrilling nine-try contest was dominated from the off thanks to a magnificent Ireland performance. Joe Schmidt’s masterplan put his side 25 – 8 up at half-time. New Zealand fought back like the great side they are, but tries from Simon Zebo and Robbie Henshaw either side of the fightback capped an unforgettable day.
The All Blacks looked in ominous mood when a superb quick step from Waisake Naholo left Rob Kearney for dead. He fended off Simon Zebo’s challenge and attempted to offload. CJ Stander’s presence complicated matters, but he was unable to get a firm hand on the ball and Moala grounded the the opening try after the pill bounced off Kieran Read’s face.
It was typical of New Zealand to take a score on their only entry into the 22 and with so little possession to their name in the first quarter.
Joe Moody was sin-binned in the seventh minute for a a tip tackle on Robbie Henshaw and Ireland made hay. By the time Jordi Murphy and Ryan Crotty were forced off with seperate injuries in the 25th minute, Ireland had opened up a 10-point lead and were exceptionally good value for it too.
While there was an awful lot to like about the back-play patterns, it was the maul made the inroads, a 10th minute rumble to the left corner giving Jordi Murphy an inch with which to squeeze the ball onto the line.
On 17 minutes, Ireland forced their second try. Rob Kearney adorned a terrific return to form with a step to see off a defender and CJ Stander bullied his way through Jerome Kaino to score.
Moody returned from the sin-bin, but Ireland continued to stand firm against the vaunted All Blacks. They tested New Zealand’s defence on all sides. The attack had width, the kick chase was hungry and the ball-carriers powered through the point of contact.
A half of poor discipline for the All Blacks reached a nadir on the 35th minute when Conor Murray peered up from a ruck inside the opposition 22, realised nobody was home and skated in for Ireland’s third try to leave a 17-point, 25 – 8 advantage at half-time.
You can never count New Zealand down though, and Ireland clearly had that in mind went they passed up a kickable opportunity after the break to go after the Kiwi maul yet again. The gamble paid off as Sexton directed the attack back to the blindside where Simon Zebo had space to touch down.
30 – 8 down, New Zealand reached for their next gear. And in the space of five minutes they drastically cut the gap with tries from Ben Smith and TJ Perenara. Even Barrett’s kicking returned to perfection as he nailed a touchline conversion to make it 30 -22 with 25 minutes to go.
Ireland were fading.
Sexton was receiving treatment before being replaced by 21-year-old New Zealand-born debutant Joey Carbery, leaving Conor Murray to kick a penalty. It did not deter a Kiwi side who were simmering to the boil and Scott Barrett wriggled through Ireland’s defensive line and the replacement was fresh enough to stretch a finish over the line despite the efforts of Devin Toner. 33 – 29, a one score game.
This time Ireland refused to wilt. They said all week they needed to be perfect today and they were not far off it. Robbie Henshaw capped an absolute magnificent display in midfield with a try to seal the victory with four minutes to go.
Suddenly anything seems possible.
Scorers
Ireland
Tries: J Murphy, CJ Stander, C Murray, S Zebo, R Henshaw.
Conversions: J Sexton (2/4) J Carbery (1/1)
Penalties: J Sexton (2/2), C Murray (1/1)
New Zealand
Tries: G Moala, B Smith, TJ Perenara, S Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett (3/4)
Penalties: B Barrett (1/1)
Ireland
15. Rob Kearney
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Johnny Sexton (Joey Carbery ‘59)
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath (Cian Healy ‘61 )
2. Rory Best (Sean Cronin ‘71)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Finlay Bealham ‘57)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Ultan Dillane ’66)
5. Devin Toner
6. CJ Stander
7. Jordi Murphy (Josh van der Flier ‘26)
8. Jamie Heaslip
21. Kieran Marmion
23. Garry Ringrose
New Zealand
15. Ben Smith
14. Waisake Naholo (Aaron Cruden ’59)
13. George Moala (Codie Taylor ’71)
12. Ryan Crotty (Malakai Fekitoa ‘26)
11. Julian Savea
10. Beauden Barrett
9. Aaron Smith (TJ Perenara ‘45)
1. Joe Moody (Ofa Tu’ungafasi ’59)
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (Ardie Savea’59)
5. Jerome Kaino (Scott Barrett ‘45)
6. Liam Squire
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Attendance: 62,300
Updated at 23.57 Irish time to show teams and replacements
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I did it! I lived to see the day we beat the All Blacks!
Can we please please please just trust Joe in future!!!
@Michael Coyle:
”
your boys took one hell of a beating!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
James, wishful thinking.
Terrible it was on pay TV for the vast majority
Murray unreal
You’ll find an excuse or you’ll find a way
Well done Michael. We’re all proud of you
@Michael Coyle pissed my self with that comment but so true
Typical RTE penny pinching filling the TV with that clown Darcy. Amazing performance and so well coached. However first time a ref in Rugby questions time delay of Irish players does he have life the players were on the field for 2 hours and taking heavy hits and he was dancing around
Cubs 108 years pales into insignificance. Chicago. The underdogs city.
Rte sport?
Match wasn’t on RTE!!!
Couldn’t agree more. Murray was outstanding tonight
Agreed John and the coverage was brutal..no studio analysis or anything on BT
Fantastic!!! Green is the new black
Looking forward to reading Sean Fitzpatrick’s apology. He didn’t give us a chance in the Times recently. He also slammed Eddie Jones who said now was the best time to play them. That’s why Eddie is a top coach and you work on TV Sean. Having said that, he is good at his job.
And don’t forget the Cubs too. It was 108 years for them.
I agree! Andy Murray is surely the greatest sportsman Ireland never claimed!!!!
Not Irish or rugby fan but live it up, real triumph comes rarely
Bmjf,Don’t think ya got that.
Watched it for free on yahoo livestream
Mobdro dude.
Now let’s just get back to real politics and reduce tax on the middle class and (upper middle)… pease? We’re ready to roll now.
Pure shite if it was on RTE it would have been manic
Go home you muppet
We have had so many near wins- really great to live to see the day Ireland beat NZ
Now on to Munster to try and do it again!!
Where online can I see this tomorrow, (well Sunday)?? I was travelling today and couldn’t get it.
Probably on YouTube by now Denise. Enjoy.
Oh yeah, that’s a good idea shouldweallbe! I’ll look there tomorrow, thank you!
In a friendly a match
@Michael Coyle: One major problem! its a poxy friendly! Do it when it counts!!!!!!
Yet out of only ten decent rugby teams in the world, only Ireland and Italy have never reached a world cup semi final…ever…even in the last fou
four*
There are actually no friendly games in full international rugby. We have “B” squads or “A” squads for that. A test series is a test series. Get back to the soccer Howye
Your dead right it’s good result but only a friendly at tend of game….don’t think New Zealand be too upset as not like it’s a World Cup game….people here would make u think we won the World Cup…where’s Roy Keane she. U need him lol
@Patrick
This was a full blown test match.
Ireland just stopped the best team in the world increasing the record breaking winning streak as well as beating them for the first time even.
Credit where credit is due.
“Meggy thetcher!”
Which channel? Couldn’t find it, had to resort to youtube
Yes exactly and ur a mite generous at 10!!!
Yes Patrick it’s the Clongowes Gonzos Belvos etc keep this rugger horse manure on the boil. Only 6/7 competitive teams on the whole shagging planet!!
@bally, And how many competitive teams are there in international football? Outside the top 6 or 7 in football no other team will come within an asses roar of winning a world cup.
WHAT A WIN
Unreal win!conall thanks for the link to view this piece of history
woooohooooo…amazing..its hard to find words. this is Irish rugby. wow wow wow. We have done it.
What cup or championship did we win at the end of the day? No doubt it was great result but…..
@Patrick Yore:
Such a tool bag…
There’s no better 9 on the planet than Conor Murrary
Christ. Even I’d look half decent against that New Zealand third XV!!!!
Rodrigo, you obviously never caught a rugby ball in your life
Oh my God, what a result, taught the last fifteen minutes it wouldnt end, amazing result. Anthony Foley is looking down on them
You’re probably right Patrick, Ireland were so inspired tonight there may have been some help from the heavens. What a game? Such hard hitting from both sides, there will be a lot of aching bodies tomorrow.
I want to marry Conor Murray and Henshaw, cant decide which.
@Dan: Don’t worrry there’ll be a referendum next week to allow you marry both
BOATH
Hon Stapo!!!!
There was something about the way they lined up as a number 8 against the Abs haka that made me think this was a special day. Best defence against the haka I have ever seen, powerful, respectful, dignified and that set the tone. Epic stuff.
not only that..they’re formation of 8 meant something..it gave them a reason to face down the Haka. Ireland were brilliant.
Can you believe it just the 40 points
Well that was f@#&ing magnificent
Heroes
Watched it with my father, absolute delighted the man never thought he’d see it, what a day.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS LADSSS!!! PINTS ARE ON ME TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
Where are ye!!!
ON ME WAY INTO TOWN PAL!!!!!
@4OYards: See you there pal, just line up the Jagerbombs.
We had a baby three weeks ago. That’s twice in three weeks I’ve bawled.
@Pete Slattery: My sons due next week, although we agreed no names already in the family, i think Conor has got to be it.
I reckon there’s going to be a whole lot of Conors born nine months from now.
Or the dodgier option – Murray!
YES! UNBELIEVABLE… DYE THE RIVER GREEN CHICAGO!!
Was gonns say dye the liffey but its green already !!
Well done Ireland so proud .
It’s always green, it was just dyed blue yesterday for the Cubbies!
COYBIG. History makers!!
I f*cking love this small country!!!! There’s no place better
Unbelievable Joe u were right. We know nothing
Amazing result. The lads are amazing
RTE you are a disgrace for not showing us our national team make history.
Greetings from Amberg, Germany. Enjoyed a “WhatsApp” update feed from family home. Well done Ireland
Since the team selection was given everyone & his mother criticised Rob Kearny, what have you to say after that. Everyone last one of those Irish players a hero!!
Kearney missed 2 tackles that resulted in 2 tries not that I’m criticising him just pointing it out
Evan, f€U.K. off you tosser.
He is correct though. Not that it matters heroes all….
@Gary: Yeah he caught some great ball and ran real hard today – but he did miss two tackles, and on another day that might have mattered, but there was nothing stopping those lads today!
He is correct but does not matter
@Evan O Carroll: Sad man.
@ritchie kenny: Excuse me my friend. I have been a one abused supporter of Rob Kearney here for ages and ages. Ritchie ,correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t remember you defending him. By the way Ritchie, I coached Robert from U 10 to U 12 in Dundalk RFC and I knew he was always something special.
Dundalk RFC was probably the period is his stunning career he’ll be most proud of
Unbelievable performance 1-23, putting 40 points & 5 tries on the all blacks has to be beyond even Joe and the squads wildest dreams! Great character to respond when New Zealand closed the gap in the second half
We have done it, we have finally f#*king done it. What a game, what a performance, what a win. Proud evening to be Irish.
@Dave Murray: Just think we get to try again in another 2 weeks
And it had nothing to do with diarmuid Connolly or Leroy Keegan dave
Now we got one…..I want two ha ha.
Great day to be Irish!!!!
Pints of the black stuff so, I’ll get me coat.
Yyyyyeeeesssss!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope Jordi Murphy is alright was having a stormer before his injury.
@Clement: Unfortunately it looked similiar to what happened Kearney that time, knee just gave out, possible ligament. still though all those who said he shouldn’t be near the team have serious egg on their face.
@Darren Byrne: agreed. i was one. always happy to say when i’m wrong. have to say i am SURPRISED with rob’s performance. joe seemingly does know best ;-)
Great win, would love to have seen Hook, Pope and o sea’s reaction. Crazy stuff though well done lads!!
From 1 to 23 absolutely immense, Incredible performance. Axel would have been proud.
Earnest Rutherford, Edmund Hillary, Colin Meades, Flight of the Concords. YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A BEATING!
Never thought I’d see it!!!
Wow wow wow…please play the all Ireland final in Chicago next year. Mayo for Sam ;)
Up the Dubs
What a fitting tribute to Axel Foley. Rest in peace. So pleased for the whole team.
Fantastic result. Before the match, always hoped for a win, naturally, but honestly didn’t think it would happen. When the AB’s trimmed the lead to just 4 points I feared the worst, but Ireland really really played the full 80 minutes with incredible pace and defence and deserved the win.
Congrats to every man in the Irish setup today, heroes all! Joe Schmidt and his players have proved themselves over and over again, and now against the best team in world. Delighted for everyone involved.
Those of you who criticised Schmidt can now STFU, legend!!!
I will cathal
Heroes.
We had an extra man on the pitch. Thank you axel. This from a leister man.
Great result, well done Ireland.
C’mon you shower of BEAUTS. That feels bloody good
GET IN
Lee Keegan is my man of the match.
He would deserve it about as much as the GAA one he won
Jack McGrath has usurped Healy not just as the Leinster and Ireland loose head, but maybe as the world’s best. The man is unreal. Joe Schmidt has just confirmed himself the best coach in the world. I don’t always agree with selection but his ability to get the players at his disposal to lift themselves and perform to his tactics are unbelievable
Well done Ireland. An incredible result. Well deserved. Legends all!
Keeping it short:
Best bit is they turned on the awesome in the second half and we still did the business. Minutes 65 to 75 are, in hindsight, my favourites because after their last try they must have been short-odds favourites and we turned it around and actually took some control, then scored, then put it to bed.
Rob Kearney has been rubbish for ages but was magnificent today. Keep playing like that and he looks a Lion again, not some guy Ireland fans want dropped (so, please, keep playing like that…).
Conor Murray. Two best nines on this rock started the game today and CM was titanic while Smith was average. Difference maker, supreme, love it.
Finally, our breakdown work – it’s such a nerd thing to love but we are amazing at the ruck and it has underpinned all our good games for the past decade. Love it love it.
Murray is the best 9 incredible performance
Unbelievable….Well done Ireland….Well deserved….
What a result and the tribute to Anthony Foley during the Haka was absolute class. Well done lads a performance built on precision and not just passion. Thanks Joe Smith for bringing Irish Rugby to another level.
Very Proud
I don’t have BT Sport. Bollox anyway
unbelieveable!exceptionally complete performance..
Life complete
Congatulations on a well deserved win.
Congratulations*
Axel’s spirit lives on in a big way. Well done lads. Unbelievable courage.
The tribute during the Haka was beautiful. He’d be proud.
What a game! Resilience all over the place. Keeping the All Blacks at bay with a 4 point lead and momentum at their side: magnificent!
they really wanted this and boy did they show it. fantastic win
Yes Ireland!! Axel looking down proud
Where’s all the Rob Kearney knockers now??? From a Munster fan that never doubted him. We did it !!!!!! More pressecco
Wonder will Kearney get an apology from the naysayers on The42? I don’t care what anyone says no other Irish full back cudda put in that level of performance & leadership today..
Soz Rob….
I said it was the last chance saloon for him. Absolutely fair play to the guy. He played out of his skin.
To be fair he has nor been playing well. Best performance tonight in years!
Happy days
Here’s to 2016. The year sports stopped making sense!
And not a George Hook in sight
Great defensive improvement
What a fcuking game… I knew Ireland would win. The cubs got the victory after loosing since 1908 – 108 years later..
The all blacks won 29times in a row. That’s the score they had at the final whistle. brilliant game. well done guys.
what an absolute pox of coverage though! almost destroyed the enjoyment of an amazing win! Can anyone tell me is all BT/Eir’s coverage that bad? Connor Murray, MOTM without a doubt. Carbery showed he could take the pressure too, ok he missed that last kick but we were home at that stage. Great game, great performance, shocking coverage!
BT commentator at one point claimed that the first half might go on beyond the usual 35 minutes
Absolutely incredible
Great win in a great game but a friendly doesn’t matter for much.
Does this mean were world champions?
Nobody bite…
You’ve no idea
@Chocolatito:@Chocolatito: It means everything.
@Chocolatito: Friendly in rugby?
This isn’t soccer
There are no friendlies in rugby.
Oh man, do you realise just how stupid what you said reads like? All Blacks do not do friendlies.
We beat them friendly or not
Hilarious comment
@Paul Ahern: So true, all fair in love and war
So if Bosco beats u in a friendly that’s not a win either…get real will ya
There are no friendlies in rugby, these games have the same weight as a six nations game
There is a reason they call them test matches. There is never a friendly in rugby.
Really? Why? What’s so special about rugby that there’s no friendlies
Yep there are…that game was JUST a friendly at end of day lol
And they don’t lose games that really count against ireland
Cop on will ye
A M A Z I N G !!!! Well done guys … but were they selling the Italian flag in Chicago instead of the Irish?? Looks like all the Irish supporters were with the wrong flag..
Riddled, I mean absolutely riddled she’s gonna get tonight!!!!
Unbelievable game well done boys and staff.
O MY GOD..what a game.I thought when johnny kicked the ball out on the 50th minute,they got the upper hand.we stuck to the task and battled to the end. What a game and what defence from Ireland. They were magnificent. We will have to back this one up and beat them again in Dublin. Its a great day for Irish Rugby
Incredibly proud
Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Lord of the Rings, Edmund Hillary. Your boys took one hell of a beating….
Up the Irish ☘️
I was so so convinced that it wouldn’t be a good result, and I don’t ever recall being this happy to be this wrong.
Proud day to be Irish.
Absolute respect to this fantastic team
Well done Ire…..just brilliant!!!!!
Dear authors, you give me a notification when dundalk, or the soccer team does well, but when we make history in Rugby terms, not one notification. Obviously you are as shocked with happiness as I am.
I got one
12 years in NZ, looking forward to work in the morning apart from the sore head!
Epic
Hi New Zealand, shove yer unbeaten run up yer Arse
Ha ha…..good man Dave. Brilliant!!
History!
Sob!!! Come on Ireland.
Why couldn’t RTE show it?
@Eamon Mac Gowan: too busy showing propaganda about der leader Enda on bank holidays
wow. This is just beyond brilliant.
two weeks, 2 nil
I’d like to apologise to Italy in advance
I’m gunning for a pint of plain
Incredible result for Ireland. Delighted
What a win. Beating New Zealand in their recent form is a great feat. Irish teams in the past have collapsed in the face of the comeback.
On a side note, can we stop calling them the all blacks. As Matt Willian’s has said in the past that moniker gives them an aura of superiority and a psychological edge. They already have their little war dance. That said the tribute to Axel Foley was class and I think negated the effect of their haka.
So. Who’s writing the play?
Joe our Irish coach deserves credit for 4 full backs and and poor game plan…guys last who call themselves rugby fans take a bow for knowing his tactics and his selection Wednesday night
Our coach got his tactics and selection spot on…not Wednesday though when he announced his selection…
Immensely heroic!!! wow
Great night for our Nation
Bucket list,one down only 99999 to go LOLLS
Go on my sons!!!!!!
One of the best days in Irish Rugby History
Whatever bout tv .. why was match not on radio .. michael corviran would have been in his element ??
And what a year to make such an amazing, groundbreaking sporting achievement: the Centenary year, 2016!
So ,so proud of Joe and the full squad of 23. Heat, pride and belief. Finally outwitted our Southern Hemisphere friends! Ecstatic!!!!
Where the Heaslip critics and the armchair coaches who know more than Schmidt?
LEGENDS
Crikey! Amazing stuff, so proud of the team!
Unreal result great performance from the lads, looking good for the title now. The Klopp impact really shining through the players performances #YNWA
What a game come on Ireland
Got Ireland at half time to win by 1-12 @5/1 …..in your face space coyote
The Huns are raging,Combing
Took a kiwi to beat the kiwis. #WhatADayToBeAlive
COYBIG!!!!! LEGENDS!!!!
Wish this game was on Irish tv ,why the fu%k we pay a tv licence is beyond me ,,,,I can’t afford bt or sky sports ,,,but still screwed to pay rte a license fee ,,,still so proud we beat the all blacks ,sounded like a great game on the radio
This was only a friendly, a nothing match in reality, all blacks weren’t even trying and it was a 3rd string team. If this was a World Cup match we’d have been smashed off the park. A nothing win all told.
@Barry Basstard: even the AB third team was always better than the Irish team. So its a start. Rugby is about confidence. Big step today
Barry go ahead and name the 30 players that would otherwise have been playing if that was a 3rd string team then
Epic game..best rugby we’ve played ever..For Axel#8
There will be one who get on here won’t there?
Brilliant win Ireland went out wearing green & white & came off the pitch All Black from the bruising encounter. Great to see us achieve the first win. Axel will be delighted.
Go on ya good things!x
In other news heaslip..call me
That’s up there with Katie Taylor’s gold medal fight at the Olympics
Best Evening of all time!! And lovely for you all to eat humble pie RE Kearney.. Get that poster up in yiz’r kitchens…
Love you all. xoxo #Axel.
Finally, finally Ireland has beaten The All Blacks. Congratulations to all concerned, especially Manager Joe Schmidt.
After 111 years of trying and 28 defeats…
Remember, remember the fifth of November..2016.
Ireland. cxxxxxx[======>. All Black’s
Rugby for the elites only they don’t want the poor seeing there game hence not on terrestrial tv
Needs to be said amidst the infantile euphoria of Clongo,Gonzo,Belvo,’Rock rugger buggers thus was an under strength Blacks roysh??
My only complaint from that match is the fact it was not shown free to air on a channel everyone can access.
That should keep d4 happy.
Yeeha
The Blacks would not risk a 17 game wining streak with a second string team and it was a test game not a friendly
A game which the over paid over llicenced muppets in RTE sport deemed not to air.
@tomreily he’s a grown assed man does his talking on the pitch doesn’t need me or any other key board warrior defending him.
@hughmorris, I’m pretty sure he’ll be dam proud of last night too
I’m so happy, I could die
40 points against the All Blacks? Wow, Well done Ireland!