RUGBY
Famous win places Ireland in good stead for build up to World Cup
By Daire Walsh
THE Ireland men’s side produced another extraordinary display at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening to defeat New Zealand for the just the second time in their history.
While Soldier’s Field, Chicago in 2016 will forever be remembered as the moment that they finally ended their drought against the All Blacks, 17 November 2018 will prove extra special for the nation’s rugby fraternity when they reflect on this victory in the months and years to come.
Beating the back-to-back world champions on home soil, in front of a packed Lansdowne Road, was the ideal scenario for a highly-committed squad – who were determined to lay down marker against Steve Hansen’s formidable visitors.
What helps to make this win all the more remarkable is the fact that Ireland lined up without a number of players that are regarded as front-line operators under Joe Schmidt. Regarded by many to be the finest scrum-half in world rugby, Conor Murray was once again marked absent.
Robbie Henshaw also missed out for the second week in succession – ensuring that Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki renewed the centre partnership that proved so effective in the closing weeks of the Six Nations.
Sean O’Brien endured an injury-ravaged 2017/18, but is regarded by many as Ireland’s first-choice option at openside flanker. He was ruled out of the Guinness Series through injury after departing 38 minutes into the previous week’s success over Argentina.
Dan Leavy was named to replace him in the back-row, before suffering a set-back of their own in the lead up to the game. His spot was taken by provincial team-mate Josh van der Flier and he played a key part in a majestic display from Ireland’s forward pack.
Along with the line-out platform established by the returning Devin Toner, man-of-the-match Peter O’Mahony was imperious. In contrast to their 40-29 triumph two years earlier, this was always likely to be a tighter affair.
Thanks to three penalties courtesy of Jonathan Sexton’s reliable right boot, Ireland led 9-6 at the break. It was hardly unchartered territory for the All Blacks to be trailing at the midway point in an international test and they have surged back in front off similar circumstances in the past.
However, they were left reeling seven minutes into the second half – powerhouse Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale getting through for the 12th try of his ever-blossoming Irish senior career. Alongside James Ryan and Andrew Porter, he also featured for the Ireland U20s in their triumph over New Zealand in the summer of 2016.
Despite the heroics they were producing on the field, it was a nervy final-quarter for Ireland. A Beauden Barrett penalty narrow the gap and the hosts remained on tenterhooks in the dying moments.
Athy’s Joe Carbery was a substitute in their previous win over the All Blacks and he once again deputised for Sexton late on. He helped Ireland to close out another monumental win, which was greeted with rapturous applause by the partisan home crowd.