Thursday, March 28

Sexton injury adds to Ireland woes in crushing defeat by New Zealand | rugby union


Ireland had high hopes for this, New Zealand creeping concerns. In the end, a familiar tale unfolded. This particular Ireland team might not be familiar with 40-point hidings, but rugby observers of any experience will know scorelines well that read: New Zealand 40-plus, someone else a lot less.

Worse still for Ireland, who must now regroup after this six-try hammering, Johnny Sexton left the field in the first half, the game still in the balance, with a head injury. Given World Rugby’s latest press release and Sexton’s history with concussion, he must observe at least 12 days ‘stand-down, so he will miss the second Test next weekend at least.

The All Blacks came into this on the back of two consecutive defeats, one of them to Ireland, their third against the tourists in five Tests. Hence those strange vibes beforehand. They also had to prepare without their usual coaching team, hit by an outbreak of Covid this week.

So Joe Schmidt, who did so much to raise Ireland’s standing in world rugby, ran a couple of sessions this week. None of it seemed to matter. It was almost reassuring to see that nothing really has changed.

What unfolded was classic All Blacks. Ireland actually felt early on they were at least their opponents’ equals – and with good reason, because they were. For 20 minutes. New Zealand like to let you feel that way. Then they pounce. Or the opposition unwind. It amounts to the same thing.

Trailing 5-0 at the end of the first quarter, the All Blacks scored four tries in the second. In the midst of it all, Sexton took his leave. It had all started so well. That confidence Ireland bring, now that they are familiar and comfortable with their place among rugby’s elite, is well-placed.

They tore into New Zealand as if the match were in Cardiff or Edinburgh. And, as so often in those places, they came away with an early try. Excellent it was too, lovely passes of differing natures by Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan set up Keith Earls to finish a typical passage of multi-phase Irish charges after only five minutes. The All Blacks did look rattled.

Then again, sometimes you wonder if they look that way on purpose. They were to look less so by half-time. They struck first a minute into the second quarter. A loop out of Ireland’s playbook released the new cap Leicester Fainga’anuku down the left. He was stopped just short, but Jordie Barrett picked a line and converted.

Jordie Barrett goes in to score. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The next stage in the classic narrative of matches against the All Blacks is for the newly chastened hopefuls to continue to play as if they can win. Ireland did so. Then, typically, our would-be challengers make a mistake. Ireland did so, their handling creaking under pressure, their captain staggering by now, and Sevu Reece scooped up the loose ball on his 22 to run off to the tryline 80 meters away.

Sexton left the fray at that point, and Ireland unraveled. Jamison Gibson-Park, so lively throughout and now without his usual captain alongside him, overplayed his part of him by trying to break from a defensive ruck. New Zealand turned him over, Beauden Barrett chipped, Quinn Tupaea dotted down.

Johnny Sexton of Ireland lies on the ground injured.
Johnny Sexton of Ireland lies on the ground injured. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The All Blacks scored their fourth just before the break for a 28-5 lead, more points than Ireland have conceded in a first half for a decade – the last time they were here, in fact. Aaron Smith showed his opposite number what breaks from a ruck should look like, and in the chaos that ensued Ardea Savea touched down the loose ball.

If that was ugly, Savea’s second, which confirmed the win in the 53rd minute, in case there had been any doubt, was a thing of wonder. Any doubt that lingered owed much to Ringrose’s smart finish in the corner, after Ireland had sent penalties to the corner twice.

So Savea took the ball, beat Ringrose on the outside and slalomed through what was left of Ireland’s defence. In the final 10 minutes, another debutant Pita Gus Sowakula burst from the base of a scrum to bring up the 40. Bundee Aki’s try three minutes from time was consolation for him at least, born just a few miles away. The more things change the more they stay the same. Let it be known, New Zealand still take some beating in New Zealand.


www.theguardian.com

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