Ireland beat New Zealand for the third time in history.
It's no longer history for these players. Most of them have beaten New Zealand more than once now. But this game carries with it its own significance.
This time, Ireland beat New Zealand in such a way that New Zealand will have to ask questions of themselves. The final score was 29-20, but the truth of the game was much different to that.
Andy Farrell's Ireland dominated from start to finish. The forward pack was camped on the New Zealand goal line for most of the game. New Zealand scored and threatened on the break, but it was a suffocating style that would make Jurgen Klopp proud.
Ronan Kelleher was the star. He scored a try, but also broke away for a big gain and made a critical interception at his own goal line in the first half. Kelleher bullied his opposition alongside Andre Porter and Tadhg Furlong.
Ireland dominated the ball because they won the point of contact over and over again. Furlong directed his younger counterparts, but Kelleher stood out most often and Andrew Porter played an incredible 75 minutes of rugby. Porter's switch from tighthead to loosehead has reaped immediate rewards for Ireland.
The Ireland scrum held up to every contest and the lineout was effective.
FULL TIME at the AVIVA!
Ireland have done it again!#TeamOfUs | #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/Bqj8xzOXu3
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 13, 2021
James Ryan and Iain Henderson followed the lead of their front row, matching their intensity and physicality at every opportunity. With the front five dominating the game, Ireland's playmakers had opportunities to create openings. That was how James Lowe's opening score came about.
Lowe touched down in the corner on 13 minutes.
The move began with the forward pack battering the goal line on the right side of the field. New Zealand were down to 14 men after Codie Taylor was sin-binned for a high hit on Jonathan Sexton. The All Blacks had clearly targeted Sexton, hitting him late and hard throughout the game.
With the extra man, Ireland were able to pull New Zealand inside before spreading the ball wide.
Bundee Aki unleashed a beautiful wide pass to set up Hugo Keenan outside the New Zealand centres. Keenan's instinct led him to press the defensive line. He had space to run into but showed discipline to keep his line and not rush the ball outside to Lowe. By doing so, he held the last defender just enough for Lowe to finish in the corner.
It wasn't an easy finish for the New Zealand-born winger, but it was one he was capable of completing past the arriving Jordie Barrett.
Jordie's brother Beauden Barrett suffered a head injury in the first half. Barrett wasn't the only visitor to leave through injury. New Zealand struggled to match Ireland's physicality in the first half. That wore them down in the second half. Despite losing 10-5 at halftime, Ireland scored two quick tries within 10 minutes of the second half.
Kelleher powered in from close range first, before Caelan Doris made a world-class move against Codie Taylor in space to run in from 22 metres out. Doris was a handful for New Zealand throughout the whole game.
When Will Jordan ran in a try from deep midway through the second half, Ireland's lead was cut to three points. But Joey Carbery came off the bench to kick three penalties, one from the halfway line, to secure a 29-20 victory. It was the third time Ireland beat New Zealand since 2016.
More importantly, it was the most impressive victory Ireland have had over the All Blacks. And it came on the back of a group of young players.
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