New Zealand flyhalf Daniel Carter overcame an erratic performance to guide the All Blacks to a 21-11 victory over Ireland at a rain-soaked Railyards Stadium on Saturday.
Carter, who had a poor kicking game from hand, slotted 11 points and produced a game-breaking burst to set up a Ma’a Nonu try with 17 minutes remaining that enabled New Zealand to open a winning 10-point advantage. Sitiveni Sivivatu also scored a brilliant first half try after a searing break from centre Conrad Smith for the All Blacks, whose last Test match was their ignominious 20-18 defeat to France in the World Cup quarterfinal last October.
Ireland centre Paddy Wallace scored a well-worked try after his side switched back quickly to the blindside from a free kick, while flyhalf Ronan O’Gara kicked two penalties for the visitors.
The match was played in atrocious conditions, with a cold southerly wind blasting rain across the field and ensuring the match became a battle of attrition between the forwards.
The All Blacks, who produced several poor kicks while playing into the swirling wind in the first half, had the better of the tight exchanges with Ireland’s defence keeping them in the game.
O’Gara opened the scoring when loosehead prop Neemia Tialata was penalised for having his hands in the ruck and the Munster flyhalf slotted the 30m penalty in the ninth minute.
Agressive defence
The All Blacks began to gain ascendancy at the scrum with Tialata constantly pressuring Ireland tighthead John Hayes and the forwards had several drives close to the line only be stopped by aggressive Irish defence.
The home side managed to turn over the Irish ball at the breakdown consistently, with one such opportunity leading to the first try when centre Smith was put into space and he ran more than 30m before sending a wide pass to Sivivatu.
Carter missed the conversion but Ireland struck back from the kickoff when no-one claimed the re-start and the visitors’ persistence was rewarded when inside centre Paddy Wallace dived over on the blindside to give his side an 8-5 lead.
Carter also missed a long-range penalty before he levelled in the 33rd minute with a kick that ended the scoring in the first half despite the All Blacks dominating possession and territory for the remainder of the opening spell. O’Gara and Carter swapped penalties early in the second half before the New Zealand number 10 put the All Blacks in front with his third penalty then set up Nonu’s try with a sparkling burst.
Carter ghosted through a gap and fed replacement prop John Schwalger, who got his hands free in the tackle and popped the ball to Nonu, who ran 25m before skidding along the slick surface the last five under pressure from three Irish defenders to give his side the breathing space needed. – Reuters