AB's Match Report
All Blacks hold off Irish assault
10/06/2006
Sportal.co.nz

Ireland provided some worrying moments for 70 minutes of the first Test but the All Blacks finally triumphed to win 34-23 at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium.

It was a tough, torrid affair with superb Irish tackling matching their promised attack but it was the failure to seize chances that again cost Ireland its chance of a first victory over the All Blacks.

In their last match in Dublin in November, the Irish were unable to capitalise on line breaks and the same occurred again.

Poor lineout liaison made life difficult for New Zealand's attempts to secure phase possession initially.

Another contributing factor to the stilted attack was the firing of unnecessary passes, several of which were intercepted by the Irish.

The All Blacks backs continued to try to bust their way through with fullback Mils Muliaina and centre Ma'a Nonu, especially, several times held in strong Irish tackles.

But in the end, the All Blacks' superior stamina wore the Irish down.

The All Blacks hit the game running and attacked from the kick-off.

After only one minute Muliaina broke the Irish backline defence and raced into space. It was obvious the try scoring chance was on as only fullback Geordan Murphy was in position to offer any chance. But with support on either side, Muliaina passed out to second five-eighths Aaron Mauger .

Mauger didn't have the speed to clear out, and passed wide to right wing Doug Howlett, who ground the ball in a despairing tackle in the corner.

The All Blacks were unable to control a lineout take they stole from Ireland and from the lineout the Irish did better at the second attempt.

The ball was spun wide with second five-eighths Gordon D'Arcy feeding a long pass to captain and centre Brian O'Driscoll who raced into space to score.

O'Gara added the conversion and four minutes later added a penalty goal to take Ireland to a 10-5 lead.

Penalty goals, one by first five-eighths Luke McAlister after 21 minutes, and to O'Gara after 30 minutes advanced the score to 13-8.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was penalised just before the break for not rolling away in the tackle and O'Gara landed the goal from 37 metres out.

The All Blacks started superbly in the second half when from a scrum McAlister popped the ball to wing \\Joe Rokocoko coming off the left wing. He passed to Nonu who fed Mauger and Muliaina was able to score. McAlister added the conversion.

Nine minutes into the half, the Irish made the most of some muddled All Blacks play on defence with O'Gara freeing ball in front of the posts and popping a pass to left wing Andrew Trimble who scored. O'Gara's conversion gave Ireland an eight-point cushion.

McAlister pulled back three points, 16 minutes into the half, with a penalty goal.

From the kick-off the first real All Blacks driving maul drove Ireland back and when the ball was fed to the backs, flanker David Wallace was penalised for not rolling away in his tackle of Howlett and McAlister goaled from 48m.

Some powerful drives by the All Blacks fully tested the Irish defence and play carried towards the line where a penalty provided McAlister with another penalty goal for the All Blacks to finally reclaim the lead.

After play ranged back and forward with intercepts to both sides, it was lock Paul O'Connell's knock on of a bouncing ball from an Irish chip ahead, that provided Nonu with an opening which he used to feed replacement lock Troy Flavell in for his try.

McAlister's conversion gave New Zealand an eight-point lead and the home team stormed back onto attack to finish the game camped on the Irish line.

Scorers:

New Zealand 34 (Doug Howlett, Mils Muliana, Troy Flavell tries; Luke McAlister 2con, 5 pen)

Ireland 23 (Brian O'Driscoll, Andrew Trimble tries; Ronan O'Gara 2 con, 3pen).

HT: 16-8