Move FM Australian News

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Ireland has pulled off a gutsy win against the famed All Blacks to win the Test series.

The game on Saturday night in the New Zealand capital of Wellington’s Sky Stadium saw the Irish team explode in the opening half, with the visitors scoring a raft of tries to take a 22 to 3 lead by half-time.

Led by captain Johnny Sexton, the visitors took the All Blacks by surprise with some spectacular plays and brutal tackling.

The home side rallied in the second half, posting the same number of points as the Irish team had scored in the first – the only problem is Ireland stacked on another 10 points. Final score 32 to 22.

The result gives Ireland the Steinlager 2022 Test series, having won two Tests to 1.

“We had 4 million people at home, up for breakfast and probably having a couple of beers, we wanted to do them proud tonight, and we certainly did that,” a jubilant Sexton told a press conference after the game. “We were playing against the best in the world, the very best, and to come down here and do that is very special.”

For the All Blacks, it was their second home defeat for the first time in twenty-four years.

“We’re gutted,” All Blacks captain Sam Cane said in the post match conference. “We didn’t put out the performance we wanted to, but we can’t take anything away from Ireland. They were too good tonight. Massive respect to Ireland, they’ve been class, and they deserve their win tonight.

Referee Wayne Barnes gave Irish prop Andrew Porter a yellow card for a high tackle on lock Brodie Retallick, despite chants from the crowd for him to be sent off.

First-half tries from Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan, and Robbie Henshaw were converted, and with a penalty goal, Ireland picked up their 22 points.

“To come over here and to get a series win against New Zealand, that must be the hardest thing in world rugby to do, and these boys have achieved that,” Ireland’s Coach Andy Farrell said.

“They knew they could do better, we left five tries out there in the first Test. We were better in the second Test, and we knew that we could be even better, and that showed in the first 40 minutes.

“But Test matches, especially against the world’s best, will test you. That’s what it’s all about. They came back like we knew they would do, but we stayed composed.”

“Our maul was outstanding, our composure was outstanding, our defence at times was outstanding,” Farrell said.

Sexton scored 12 points on the night to become the second Irish player to go past the 1000-point mark. “It’s a very special day because we’re playing against the best in the world. To come down here and do it is very, very special,” he said.

“It means a lot now. I know in a year’s time when the Word Cup starts it won’t mean anything as we learned before.”

“We’ll certainly enjoy tonight and then maybe a couple of more days and then we’ve got to keep improving. That’s what we have to learn from previous years, we have to keep improving,” the Irish captain said.

“This group of boys, the management we’ve got, they’re a very special group, and I’m so proud to be a part of them.”

Ireland’s President Michael Higgins was amongst those supporting the team back home. “As President of Ireland, may I congratulate the Irish rugby team, led by their captain Johnny Sexton, on their outstanding and historic achievement today,” he posted on Twitter.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin also chimed in with his congratulations. “Extraordinary, sensational, and breathless victory by Ireland over the All Blacks. This achievement will live long in history – a first test series win and New Zealands first series defeat on home soil since 1994. A huge lift for the entire nation this morning,” Martin tweeted.

(Images credit: Billy Strickland | INPHO).