- Ireland has been knocked out of first place in the world rankings
- This was the team’s first meeting since the World Cup quarter-finals last year
Ireland suffered further disappointment at the hands of New Zealand when their 19-match winning streak was ended in a 23-13 defeat in Dublin.
Andy Farrell’s side faced the formidable All Blacks for the first time since the painful 28-24 World Cup quarter-final defeat in France.
A 37th international try from full-back Will Jordan helped deny the hosts a modicum of revenge, leading to six penalties from fly-half Damian McKenzie as the Kiwis once again came out on top.
Ireland, who had won five of the last nine meetings between the countries, looked rusty for large parts of a sell-out match at the Aviva Stadium that was more exhausting than exciting.
The Six Nations champions briefly threatened to kick into gear but failed to build on Josh van der Flier’s score early in the second half, which was supplemented by eight points from Jack Crowley, as they went from the top of the world rankings were beaten.
Ireland were not at their best and have been knocked off the top of the world rankings
New Zealanders Mark Tele’a and Ardie Savea celebrate good work
Talk of last year’s thrilling clash at the Stade de France set the stage for the build-up to a match that has developed into a real rivalry in recent years, after more than a century of being dominated by the All Blacks.
Cast in the role of pantomime villain following his highly publicized feud with former Irish skipper Johnny Sexton in Paris, Kiwi center Rieko Ioane drew some cheers as he led the Haka, which the home team stared at from a distance before finally strode forward to meet each other.
Andrew Porter’s early strike further inflamed the large crowd before Crowley and McKenzie exchanged penalties in a relatively scrappy opening punctuated by errors.
Simmering tensions threatened to boil over in the 13th minute during a scuffle involving Kiwi captain Scott Barrett and Ireland lock Joe McCarthy.
Gladiator II actor Paul Mescal was pictured enjoying the conflict from the comfort of the terraces, but on the field his country began to lose the battles.
New Zealand were on the rise for much of the first half and it took some last-ditch defense to prevent them from fully capitalizing.
Scott Robertson’s side led just 9-6 at half-time after McKenzie added a pair of penalties before Crowley’s boot reduced the deficit after Jordie Barrett was sinned for a high tackle on Garry Ringrose.
That incident provided a brief change in momentum and Ireland were rewarded for a fast start to the second half as Van der Flier plundered the opening try of the match.
Ireland couldn’t really get going against the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium
Yet just a point separated the sides by the time All Blacks center Barrett returned after McKenzie was awarded a long-range penalty before later hitting the posts with a similar effort.
Ireland’s repeated fouls quickly became costly as the stop-start battle began to slip away.
All Blacks number 10 McKenzie, playing in place of concussed Beauden Barrett, made no mistake with his next two penalties, leaving the home side 18-13 in the final 15 minutes.
Farrell’s men offered little response and were quickly met with a first home defeat since being beaten by France in the 2021 Six Nations.
Hugo Keenan’s tackle denied Mark Tele’a on New Zealand’s right wing, but the ball was quickly recycled for the jet-heeled Jordan to fire clear on the left and deliver the knockout blow.