Ireland register first ever win over New Zealand at home
Jacob Stockdale was the only try-scorer in the game
©PA
Ireland 16-9 New Zealand, Aviva Stadium
Scorecard
Ireland came up with a terrific display as they registered their first win over New Zealand at home with a 16-9 margin at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Ahead of the game, New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said the winner of the game between the top two ranked sides will have the right to call themselves the best team in the world and it was the Irish side, who continued their stupendous form this year that also saw them clinch a Grand Slam in Six Nations followed by a 2-1 series win over Australia in June.
This was also Ireland's second win over New Zealand in their last three encounters with their previous triumph coming in 2016 in Chicago.
Ireland got going in the 11th minute when Johnny Sexton kicked a penalty goal following an offside infringement from New Zealand but six minutes later the visitors went on to level the scores with a three-pointer from Beauden Barrett.
As the All Blacks conceded another penalty Sexton once again got Ireland into the lead with his second penalty kick in the 27th minute but it was short-lived as Barrett with a drop goal two minutes later made it 6-6 before the Irish fly-half ensured Joe Schmidt's side went into the break with a three-point lead following another penalty kick.
Ireland looked shaky at the start of the second half when Peter O’Mahony dropped the ball and Stockdale almost gifting Kieran Read a try but the duo made amends for it. It was first O’Mahony won a penalty at a breakdown but it was a combination of Sexton and Bundee Aki that sent Stockdale over the line.
A conversion from Sexton stretched Ireland's lead to 16-6 and despite a late 69th minute penalty goal from Barrett, New Zealand succumbed to a seven-point defeat.
