New Zealand v Ireland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Ireland make history by winning deciding Test
Follow reaction as Ireland make history by beating the All Blacks in a titanic series decider
A courageous Ireland held off a fierce All Blacks fightback to claim an epic 32-22 win in the series-deciding third test in Wellington on Saturday.
Beaten in the opening test at Eden Park, Ireland completed rare back-to-back victories over New Zealand following their win in the second match at Dunedin.
It was not only a first series victory in New Zealand for the Irish but the first time the All Blacks have lost a series on home soil since 1994.
Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Robbie Henshaw all crossed in the first half as the visitors surged into a 22-3 lead but the All Blacks hit back and got to within three points. But Rob Herring’s try 15 minutes from time proved decisive as Andy Farrell led his men to an historic triumph.
Follow live reaction from New Zealand vs Ireland in the series decider, below:
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 10-22 Ireland (Ardie Savea try, 44 minutes)
This will stand! New Zealand needed a quick reaction and they’ve got one, the fire and fury of Savea around the corner making the final, telling punch, all bristling energy as he battles out of the clutches of the first tackler and through two more to get the ball down.
Jordie Barrett converts.
New Zealand 3-22 Ireland, 43 minutes
The ball again hits the deck, but New Zealand get to it. A weaving Sevu Reece darts to within a couple of metres..and Ardie Savea might just have scored! This’ll be checked...
New Zealand 3-22 Ireland, 42 minutes
The ball pops free and again ends up in B.Barrett’s hands, and this time he does find a hole! Ardie Savea keeps the momentum up, biffing away two tacklers, and New Zealand build up to 19 consecutive phases as they earn a penalty advantage.
New Zealand 3-22 Ireland, 41 minutes
New Zealand fire out of the second half blocks. Akira Ioane and Jordie Barrett carry firmly before Sam Whitelock draws three with his charge. Beauden Barrett steps off his right boot and threatens to hurry through a half-hole, but can’t quite get away.
Second half begins!
The All Blacks get things back underway. Ireland are 40 minutes from a series win in New Zealand.
Nepo Laulala, who had a lot of strapping on his knee, has been replaced at half-time by Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
H/T: New Zealand 3-22 Ireland
It’ll soon be time for the resumption. Can New Zealand turn this around? They’ll have to score first in the second half, you’d say. Scott Barrett has been really missed at the lineout, and the backline really hasn’t worked well. Might we get an early look at Roger Tuivasa-Sheck?
H/T: New Zealand 3-22 Ireland
The All Blacks look completely lost. Defensively they are being picked apart, and they have made a number of elementary errors to prevent them gaining any sort of momentum. Has Scott Robertson got his phone on? If it continues in this manner, Ian Foster’s position will come under real scrutiny.
H/T: New Zealand 3-22 Ireland
Another outstanding, razor-sharp half from Ireland, who have once more cut New Zealand to a tangled mess of ribbons. They have unsettled the All Blacks’ lineout, held on to their opponents’ strike runners in defence and produced some typically fabulous touches in attack to extend their advantage to something rather commanding at the half.
New Zealand 3-22 Ireland, 41 minutes
But that means it will be an All Blacks lineout, which isn’t particularly pretty at the moment. Again it clunks, Codie Taylor’s throw off-line in the direction of Ardie Savea and ruled not straight.
Ireland have to take the scrum before the half can end, but it’s strong and stable, and that’ll do us for the first 40.
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