Ireland received a brutal reality check from ruthless All Blacks at Eden Park (via IrishTimesSport)
Ardie Savea crossed for two tries for the All Blacks. Photograph: Michael Bradley/AFP via Getty ImagesIreland have made progress in the last two and a half years, as evidenced by a dozen wins in their previous 13 tests going into this match. But the All Blacks in New Zealand is different gravy, all the more so in Eden Park, and this was a shuddering reality check.
But as the errors crept in and the All Blacks upped their physicality, increasingly bossing the collisions; pretty much every Ireland mistake was ruthlessly punished. Ireland had some game performers, notably Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier, while Peter O’Mahony started brilliantly and Caelan Doris had some good moments.
Behind their pack, Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett were imperious, and the All Blacks also protected their try line with more ferocity, holding up Irish players over the line five times.