By Lucky Maree
➤ With minutes to go:
As Ireland and New Zealand come out onto the field, the men in green are the favourites. They’ve had a perfect World Cup so far, while New Zealand have been getting stronger with every match. As the match starts, it’s hard to imagine that the All Blacks can turn the tables on the world’s number one side, but it is so close that it comes down to who wants it the most. We find out now!
➤ 1st half:
For the first four minutes, the All Blacks run hard at Ireland with one pick-n-go after another down the middle of the field, but never get across the advantage line.
After an incredible 30 phases and 41 tackles by Ireland, New Zealand open the scoring through a Richie Mo’unga penalty.
Ireland get an easy penalty shot but they go for the lineout instead – and come away with nothing.
The All Blacks, on the other hand, are playing a different strategy, taking all the points on offer. Jordie Barrett scores a monster penalty from 55m out to give the All Blacks a six-point lead.
On 20 minutes, magic from Beauden Barrett leads to a try for Leicester Fainga’anuku. The All Blacks race into a 13-0 lead.
Ireland get on the board with a penalty by Johnny Sexton, but they can’t crack the All Black advantage line and they seem to be showing signs of panicking.Â
However, Bundie Aki slips five (yes, five!) All Blacks tackles from a standing start to score a seven-pointer.
Ireland are within three, but minutes later Ardie Savea goes in for a try. Mo’unga misses the difficult conversion. All Blacks lead by eight.
A lack of discipline, as in other matches, haunts the All Blacks as Aaron Smith gets a yellow card. Ireland benefit immediately when Jamison Gibson-Park scores a try. Johnny Sexton converts and we go into halftime with the All Blacks leading by one single point.
➤ 2nd half:
The first 20 minutes of the second half is a tight affair in the middle of the field although silky smooth All Blacks handling seems to give them a slight advantage.
But then the game swings hugely in New Zealand’s favour when Richie Mo’unga slices through the Irish backline and runs 50 metres before sending Will Jordan over in the corner. Jordie Barrett converts and suddenly New Zealand are ahead by eight points.
With 15 minutes to go, New Zealand get the double whammy. Codie Taylor gets yellow for collapsing the maul and Ireland is awarded a penalty try.
A penalty by Jordie Barrett pushes the New Zealand lead out to four. Ten minutes to go and it’s not over yet!
Then follows four magnificent minutes of classic rugby in a classic match. Ireland go through phase after phase but the All Blacks, after two minutes over the 80 minutes, get the turnover. A historic All Black victory.  Â
Ireland (2 tries) 24-28 (3 tries) New Zealand
Pictured above: New Zealand touching down
Image source: All Blacks
