Autumn International: Ireland v New Zealand Rugby Union

Comfortably the best team in the world. They are playing some

incredible rugby. I want to play against the best teams to see how we

can react to being under serious pressure. On the day that you are

going to beat them, you need them to underperform and you need to be at

your all-time best. You would like to think that an

Irish team is definitely capable, in the future, of beating them.

Difficult to get over that self-confidence and natural ability

they have. Now is the time. 27 times they have tried and 27 times it has

proved beyond them. A solitary draw four decades ago is as close as it

comes. The Irish team in Dublin today may have half an eye on

history but they will need a complete focus on their opponents

from half a world away if 27 is not to become 28. An average of almost

40 points conceded why Ireland in the past ten meetings. They are only

human might not superhuman, not bigger, not stronger, though, and

that is the All Blacks, and that is the thing. That is why you cannot

get a ticket for love nor money here at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin

today. Green collides with black. There is a strange sense of

expectation here that after our event were beaten so comprehensively

by Australia last weekend, the only way is up and who better to be on an

upward spiral against the mighty All Blacks? The Ireland captain and

Steve Woodward, for whom this was a significant weekend tenures ago, are

our guests. There have been a few handy all-black teams over the years

but is this one of the best? To go through the whole season saying

13-1-13, in the league they play, is tremendous. This is a tremendous

team. I do not think they are quite as good as everyone believes. All

the teams will have to have a big step up. Clive has mentioned the

unbeaten record so far this year. It has been a long old season for them.

The key thing to date perhaps is to make sure they are all up for this

but they will certainly want to finish this season with an unbeaten

record. They will. When you look at this one, there are big teams.

They have all done incredibly well but they will have the fear that

they had at the last game that is and when they had the cup against

England. That is think that Ireland will try to play on. But it is an

incredibly impressive element to come through the whole 12 months.

What do you make of their hurling technique? That was a great stunt. I

remember doing that years ago with teen son broke and he was atrocious

on one day and on the following day he was brilliant because he spent

the whole night in the field. The third leg of what has been a long

road we weekend starting on Friday in Cardiff and yesterday in

Edinburgh. Let's see the best moments of those two days.

COMMENTATOR: Leigh Halfpenny, Owen Williams...

While tackled, but here it is. A great finish by Ashley bag.

COMMENTATOR: It is one tackle slipped. There is the first try of

the match. Scott Johnson said he was fed up

with being an heroic loser but that was Scotland's fate once more.

Another defeat for Italy. Interesting defeat with Samoa going

down to Georgia. Eight days ago Australia where he and handed out a

real reality check to Ireland, so it will be interesting to hear what the

Irish coach has been up to over the past week to try to repair this

damage. COMMENTATOR: Again, here at the

Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland versus Australia.

It is going to be a brilliant try for Australia.

Cooper scores Australia's second try. Set piece try for Cooper. It is

working. They claim the try. Australia have won handsomely at the

Aviva Stadium. Has there been much soul-searching

this week given the performance against Australia? Not really. I

would say there performance was not as bad as the score stacked up to

be. We conceded a pushover try from a line-out that we were really

unhappy about. But at the same time we did develop a little bit of play

and asked a feud questions of them. Got close to scoring a few times

ourselves as well. It is about being more accurate. You have to ring the

intensity in that was not quite there and I think the All Blacks do

bring that out in most things, so hopefully we can deliver that today.

Only island stand in the way of New Zealand in a clean sweep. Does that

crank up the magnitude of the task today? Probably, because it cranks

up the determination to perform and they have a high level of

determination in the first place. I have no doubt that they will be

highly motivated and really difficult to contain. It was touch

and go all week as to whether O'Driscoll, Kearney, Sexton would

play. They do. Is it a bit of a risk, given the opposition? There

are always risks you have to manage and that is one of the things we are

trying to manage this week. One of the most destructive things is the

training week was compromised as a result. Johnny has only really done

one training with us but he brings that leadership and experience we

need against the quality of side we are up against today. Good luck. We

need some. Thank you. Nice to see a coach being so honest.

It all starts in the front row. Rory Best needs to have a better

performance, as does Mike Ross. Ireland were sadly lacking in

leadership skills last weekend. Paul O'Connell needs to deliver. Devin

Toner needs to do much more than just front out in the line-out. The

one change in the side has been at nine, Conor Murray coming back in,

bringing in physicality, and then we seek Jonathan Sexton back in the

starting, with all the doubts over his head this week.

In the back row, big doubts over Rob Kearney. Tommy Bogart injured last

weekend. You mention in particular the back row. Who are the key

figures that will be determining who gets the ascendance? It is hard when

you talk about last week's performance but the lack of

intensity was a huge problem. Peter O'Mahony will be a key element will

stop he was unbelievably quiet last weekend. We cannot afford to have

that again. He keeps saying he does a huge amount of work that we need

to see it. Sean O'Brien, I still think, is playing out of position in

number seven. I think he's a world-class number six. He can play

very well but whether he will be able to out- puzzle Richard McCoy, I

do not know. There is always talk of mind games

when you play against the All Blacks. Is there an element that you

are almost going in on the defensive before you even actually take the

field? I think you have to be really careful. You do not beat the All

Blacks by not saying the name All Blacks. I think they should be just

focusing on their own game. How we're going to get intensity. Almost

building them up, looking forward to be Haka, and getting away from the

stunt. It has to be a massive step up from last weekend. You did the

same in 2003 and 2005. Do you think that our and have the mental agility

to deal with the All Blacks? In the media they refer to them always as

the All Blacks. This is just 15 players in black shows from New

Zealand. That is what we did then. But we did not focus on that too

much. Couldn't play the game faster, could we score more tries? It it was

not all about what we would call them. That came out in the media.

The dude drove me mad, the media calling these guys superstars. They

are just 15 men. But when you look at the All Blacks, if you are a

player but also involved in the ancillary staff as well, and you

think, how many of our players could get into their side? I would always

think there was no one in betting that would make our team. You're

always trying get this across that it is 15 against 15 and they are

beatable. With your eyes rolled to have an excavation mark with New

Zealand, even when you think you have got them on the road, they

always manage to find a killer punch.

Everyone always asks, how do you beat the All Blacks? I am going to

ask you. Just played better than them, I guess. I have not thought to

much about it. We just make sure our week is all about preparing well and

coming out with that intensity and purpose and a range of skill sets.

You will say it is just another game but how important is it to you and

your players that you finish this Queen -- clean sweep? It will be

nice but the most important thing is that we perform well. We know we are

a talented group. If they perform well it will be a reflection of how

well we have prepared, what we have done at training. Then if we get

beaten then Ireland have played better than us and we will just have

to take it on the chin. Six changes, albeit two enforced through injury.

What is the thinking behind that? It looks like a lot of changes but a

couple of the front rowers have changed around. One starting and

want now coming off the bench. We use the whole 23 man squad every

time and we also think that fresh legs is important at this point in

the year for us as well. So six changes.

Keith. Even when the All Blacks chop and change it always looks

incredibly imposing. There has been a very late change and Brodie

Retallic is back in. Kieran Read is number one player in the world at

the moment but Retallick is number two. This has just been the sharpest

element of New Zealand's game, Read am a McCaw and Luatua. They always

deliver. And behind that, Clive? Crude and gets a real chance that to

establish itself. Arguably the best midfielder in world rugby, mine

only. -- Ma'a Nonu. And the world's best back three. This is the

strength of this New Zealand team. An awesome team that is missing

probably the most famous rugby player in the world.

A spectator again today, Dan Carter. The other macro story of my year

really. A summer to enjoy after this but

right throughout the week, concentrate on this game and finish

the season well. If the All Blacks can end with a clean sweep this

season, how much does that added to motivation? We have realised how

real that is. Involved in a side that has achieved that, it is

important we turned up today and play streaming well because I am

sure the Irish will be fired up and will want to beat us tonight so we

had better make sure we go to those dark places and do the little things

well. There are no short cuts. What is the secret to your success?

People keep asking it. The environment that we are creating,

dies I wanted to achieve greatness -- guys are wanting to achieve. No

matter who is playing, they want to reach such a high level. We put a

high focus on getting better every week. So never look too far ahead.

We want to be better than we were last week and we want to continue to

improve. Thank you for your time. Our plans for not being on the pitch

today. JOHN INVERDALE: On a different time

zone to most of us as well as almost being on a different planet! I had a

conversation about Kieran Read last week and we were basically saying

from three years ago, Kieran Read has upped the quantity and quality

of his training drastically will stop he has nearly doubled the

amount of training, he has changed body shape, he was a bigger player

three years ago, he has become slick, he is turning up in the back

line, he is giving try scoring passes and scoring tries. Clive, you

are one of the greats supporters of stats. In the Manchester All Blacks

-- Bina Brock tackles that the All Blacks have made is almost double

what their opponents have done. The matter possession they have had is

almost a half of what their opponents have had and yet they win.

How does it happen? The key things is territory. They have only 40%

compared with France, huge model tackles but they have such firepower

outside. And look at the England statistics.

A small amount of all but it is the amount of firepower. They just know

if they get the ball, they have got amazing players and against those

statistics, they made five clear line breaks and England made none.

They have got players that can break through really great chances. This

will be a tough afternoon. It will come down to patients and

decision-making. They make the right decision all the time. They kicked a

huge amount of all but they don't kick it away, they kick it for

territory. When they get the chance, if there is a hole in the armour,

they will take it nearly every time. There is the reception for the Irish

team. I think it is said to say that was

quite loud! BANGING AND CHEERING. A few words about tactics because

the preamble at internationals goes on longer than in other places. We

have still got time to talk. Everybody has their opinion about a

match like this, and how you go out and approach playing the All Blacks.

One of the papers this morning said that in the first ten minutes the

first thing to unsettle them was doing something they would not

expect, whether it was during an unusual line-out or doing some

ludicrous movement from the backs just to make them think that they

were not expecting it. I don't want to get caught up in gimmicks.

Bearing in mind we have never beaten New Zealand so it is hard to have

any experience on that front but you have to meet them with a full level

of intensity. Without it, they can tear you a sand. This New Zealand

team will score tries, at least for five so you need a game plan. You

have to score tries. You will not have a low scoring game so you need

to work out how you can score tries against them. England scored one

through a driving line-out and I think there is real opportunity and

Ireland have got a chance, they have got to have a game plan though.

There is the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, accompanied by

Pat Fitzgerald who will be introduced to all the players. Let's

have a quick word with our wise owls in the commentary box. We can

see... What can we see? Hello. Can anybody hear me? Brian, you beat the

All Blacks, how did you do it? You have to make the intensity matched

theirs. It is almost not worth saying but England last week made as

many carries over the gain-line as anyone has done against the All

Blacks and still they ended up scoring three tries. And if you

allow that to happen, then you will be on the wrong end of the result.

It is very simple as a name but very difficult to achieve. The All Blacks

are big but the president of Ireland is not that tall, which may

exaggerate the differential in height. How do you view this

afternoon with a measure of trepidation or hope? The comment was

needing the bit of luck and Michael was right, in terms of the

intensity. If Ireland do not have the intensity and organisation in

defence, they may lose out early. And they need to be ambitious and

attack. The thing that impresses me most about this New Zealand team is

their ability in the contact situation. They run with the ball

because they are looking for the float and supporting players are

confident that the off-load will come. We have seen that from Kieran

Read and the likes of him. So they need to look into that and going to

ground, may have got to go for floats today to break this All Black

defence -- go for off-loads today. We will not know how fit the players

are until we kick off. They have held out for the time being, we saw

them doing fitness tests and it is a big gamble. Clive, thought several?

What a wonderful day for rugby first of all. I hope Ireland go out and

surprise Ireland with the way they play and instead of going for goals,

go for scrums, try to score tries, go for the attack and try to

outscore them. If this is going to be a day of Irish sporting history

when Ireland beat the All Blacks for the first time, Eddie Butler will

describe it after the anthems. # Sinne Fianna Fail.

# A ta faoi gheall ag Eirinn. # Buion dar slua.

# Thar toinn do rainig chughainn. # Faoi mhoid bheith soar.

# Sean tir ar sinsear feasta. Well, the crowd have responded and

Joe Schmidt has not responded to the calls for changes, it is the same

Irish pack but a different temperature has been ordered. And

things have got considerably more heated already here at the Aviva

Stadium behind the scrum. Gordon D'Arcy back into the midfield, the

Kearney brothers will stop the formidable All Blacks, Luke Romano

is out, Richie McCaw will captain from the back row and behind the

scrum. There is so much talent there, just the smallest chance and

they will be away with it. Ka mate Ka mate.

Ka ora Ka ora. Ka mate Ka mate.

Ka ora Ka ora. Tenei Te Tangata Puhuruhuru.

Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra. Upane Upane.

Upane Kaupane. Whiti te ra.

The All Blacks have their own way of raising their core temperature. Can

he be the All Blacks for the first time? Can Ireland for the first time

ever beat the All Blacks? 26 losses, one draw and this team, played 13

and they have won all of them this year. Good afternoon, Philip

Matthews. Looking at those Irish faces, I can see a lot of emotion in

this Irish side, there is an awful lot of emotion there so they will be

no shortage of passion. Can you feel the heat Ryan? Yes, and Ireland have

more starting caps so they have the experience on the field. Whether

that translates to performance needed remains to be seen but let's

look forward at least to a cracking test match. Today's referee, Nigel

Owens of Wales. Aaron crude and wears the number ten shirt. There

was a time when life without Dan Carter was deemed impossible for the

All Blacks. Not now. -- Aaron Cruden.

Tommy Bogart 's Ireland under way. -- Tommy Bowe gets Ireland under

A penalty goes Ireland's way. A little bit of

the crowd up. Ireland showing intent from the off. Ireland are

the crowd up. Ireland showing intent pace but on the gain-line.

It is a knock-on. We will have a scrummage. They need to be closer to

the gain-line to make sure they get over quicker. O Connell fair. They

are fine margins. That was just slightly too far outside the scrum

half. Last week against Australia, the

Irish scrum was not co-ordinated. They need to pay a lot more respect

to the New Zealand scrum if they are going to get parity.

Is Conor Merrydown? What a start it would be for Ireland. -- is Conor

Murray down? Jerome Garces... He advises Nigel

Owens, but we are going upstairs. Graham Hughes is the television

match official. Asking yes or no. That is down. That is a try. A

fantastic start by Garland. -- Ireland. Philip, as a neutral what

did you say? There is a hit of a knock-on there. I think that might

have been knocked on. I think the wall has come out of Conor Murray's

grasp. It has hit the ground and then he has got the pressure. Well,

they needed that one. Ireland ready got themselves on the front foot!

Role reversal. The decision that mattered, Graham

Hughes. The try is awarded. And here is Johnny Sexton.

7-0 in front, Ireland. You could not state any debtor. It was well

worked. -- you could not start any better. The backwards step. Smith

was driven backwards in the tackle. That keeps the momentum going.

They are so good at turning the half chance into a try, that Ireland

might have some relief at only a line-out. Having not taken the

restart, Ireland will be thankful that the All Blacks did not finish

that off, and they have an opportunity for a very crucial throw

and catch here, but what they really cannot afford to do is give points

away immediately after taking a 7-point lead.

Dave Kearney does well to get that ball into touch. The idea was nice

that the execution was not really there. New Zealand had their numbers

out. There was not much out. The game, New Zealand making the wake

through, through to that wonderful little pass from the tackle from

Aaron Cruden. Ireland will have to be wise to that.

Ireland are back in New Zealand territory. There was a huge roar

from the crowd but what they should be roaring at was the work done in

and around this tackle. Mark Nanook brought -- Ma'a Nonu brought three

layers in. Ireland collect themselves before

this line-out. They have done it! Try for the

Ulster hooker! What a start! They have a huge overlap going left. They

are now getting the ball away from the contact area quickly, and this

New Zealand defence is on the back foot. It is not beating the Irish

defence at all. That move there is the unexpected that people were

talking about. Wraparound, Luke from prop to hooker. And what has been

impressive about the Ireland effort is that when they have got behind

the gain-line, they have managed to get quick ball. It has not been so

down. The All Blacks have not been able to reorganise properly, and

Ireland have taken advantage. They have to keep up this level of

intensity. They cannot sit back and stop taking these risks.

Straight at the giant glass wall of the Aviva Stadium. Ireland lead

14-0, two converted tries. New Zealand have been rocked by the

ferocity and the skill level that this Irish have shown.

Ben Smith, candidate for world player of the year. They have come

away with it if again, did that go forward? Play on, says the referee.

Ireland have stolen the ball again in their 22 and away they come

through Gordon D'Arcy. One thing was interesting, the All

Blacks had extra numbers on the left when they moved there, it wasn't

quite that subsequent to this, the rush defence it was not that Brian

O'Driscoll was in front and that closed off the option and forced New

Zealand back inside whereupon the tackle was made and O'Driscoll did

more defensive work. Nigel Owens stops play Rory Best is having

attention. Here he is, the hooker, try scorer. That looks like a sad

shake of the head. That looks... The body language says

it all. I don't think you will be continuing this afternoon. Sean

Cronin already poised to come on. While, while he was on, what a

quarter of allowable Rory Best. How sad it is to see him go. The Irish

must hope that that does not store their momentum because the line-out

was working well, he may the obvious contributions in the loose but it is

right that this phase, the set phases which are crucial. This is

the new man, Sean Cronin. He is offside but not pulled.

Penalty advantage to Ireland. Ireland can do no wrong at the

moment. It is not just tactical discipline which they are showing

and driving them properly, it is the intent and ambition. They are saying

that they don't care that they have got the reputation they have, they

are saying that they will do it and do it successfully. White back row

not only coming from the side, it was the back of the side with Richie

McCaw. That is something that Nigel Owens had to think. Penalties. To

come. A great penalty, coming in the back of the side.

Away comes Rob Kearney! They are not going to catch him! Rob Kearney for

Ireland, his brother Dave is arriving... What a celebration! What

a game by the Irishman! Not in your wildest, Guinness-fuelled fantasies

could you have predicted this! And that came from a great tackle from

Sean O'Brien when he managed to get hold of Aaron Smith. I was going to

say at 14-0, the All Blacks would still not be rattled but I think

they are now. New Zealand could have put everything into attack there.

And that the Irish bench. They are absolutely overjoyed. And now

Ireland have laid a foundation on which they will be very disappointed

if they allow New Zealand back into this game. They should be. In this

position, this is a winning position. You should be able to

defend from this. Come back to this, make sure that if you do concede

points and they are absolutely earned -- make sure they are

absolutely earned by the other side. It is impossible to describe the

difference between the feeling at the Beaver Stadium last time out

against Australia and what is happening right here -- at the Aviva

Stadium. The first blip, it comes off the

post, unconverted. Ireland lead 19-0. It may be impossible...

Unusual way of playing the ball, it may be impossible to describe the

difference but it is possible to split. The way Ireland are playing

today compared with the Australian game is several factors higher.

The ball is out. Play has to stop. As it turned out for him, it was a

good job it was not get in because he was not in a position... Well, if

that has gone his way and it wasn't out, they would be the beneficiaries

because he played himself into trouble.

The All Blacks are keeping the ball alive and creeping closer and a

knock an, Ireland have the scrum and listen to the raw!

Hugely impressed with him, he is looking for the off-load all the

time and Ireland are stretch that they are doing it and taking that

intensity and they really need to keep that intensity going. Stopping

the off-load and stopping the All Black attack in its tracks. What

they did is they trusted in the defence, very easy when you are

under pressure to keep your foot into long, keep your hand on the

ball and get supported. What they did, especially Paul O'Connell

twice, just hands on long enough to slow the ball down, and that is it.

Cian Healy, sleight of hand by Aaron Cruden.

Lovely piece of dexterity coming up. Yesterday at Wembley, similar

one in the rugby league semifinal resulted in a try. New Zealand are

involved in a couple of contests this weekend, the mighty All

Blacks, 13 victories behind them this year are trailing at the Aviva

Stadium. The ball hit the corner flag and it

would be Ireland's ball. 22, drop out, not a line out. Everything at

the moment is going Ireland's way. And they are forcing things. It is

thrilling, nail-biting stuff at only 20 minutes gone already.

It will be a try for Julian Savea. The All Blacks are back in this

game. It was on from the moment that the Irish backs came up and stood

static, but having said that it was very intelligent played to see where

the gap was for the kick. This has been coming for a while now. Trying

to snap up the attack and closing the ball carrier down midfield but

that space and the whip on this All Blacks side in the attack. -- the

width. The All Blacks have been numbers and that kick in behind,

plenty of space behind and Julian Savea knew what was coming. It is a

smart game so far. I mentioned earlier on the way that Brian

O'Driscoll had come up and forced the New Zealand back inside and this

time they sold it. Aaron Cruden with his right foot as two points that it

was the kick through with his left boot that was inch perfect. Not many

people may link this. Ireland won the restart 22, from their New

Zealand work the position where they eventually scored. Ireland cannot

afford to do that. They have to be behind all get men under the ball so

they don't have space. And overlap to the right. Paul

O'Connell might have off-loaded them, but that ball needed to go

right instead of left there, that they still had a good attacking

position. Ireland just collect their thoughts. What they should plan to

do from here is to come away with some form of score, whether a drop

goal, a penalty or whatever. Green ball. That is the important

thing. Also important that Ireland did not panic, did not try to force

a pass. But it is followed by a knock-on. The same again here. You

need to go through the phases. Conor Murray did well there not to panic.

The ball coming probably a little early for him. O'Driscoll again,

going just behind the gain-line. There were two crucial interventions

there, into breakdowns, where ostensibly Ireland did not have the

numbers in there. REFEREE: Keep it up, please.

Scrummage. Two in the middle, not of it.

Scrummage. Two in the middle, not of it.

Ireland want to wheel from that position? In fact, they did not and

they got the benefit... I thought it was a high tackle in midfield

anyway. Today the individual is different,

the collective performance is different. Particularly with the

scrummage. They seem to be doing it as one today.

Straight and true this time. as one today.

Straight and true this time. Jonathan Sexton. Ireland are

Straight and true this time. delighted. There is time to go but

Ireland lead 22-7. You REFEREE: You're moving across within

the ten. The penalty is here. Ten on, scrum is over there. The offer

penalty or scrum. The debate going on.

That was for obstruction of Aaron Cruden, although we didn't really

see that. We are going back for the penalty now.

I told him the wrong place. It was offside. It was not obstruction.

Ireland could-in, and a another huge roar goes up. -- put in. The work

great of the ball -- the workrate off the all for this Ireland team is

a quantum different from what it was last week. As a back, when you see

the forwards doing the bits in the scrum, that gives you a lift.

to a close. Intelligent play. Realistic play. Well executed.

Ireland comfortable on their own ball. Do you think the Franks

Brothers might be coming in? Mustard back you might do but the problem

for the orb racks -- All Blacks is they are losing the battle on the

heat. Ireland want to get this off the

field now. This is the Aviva Stadium saying

what they think about an extraordinary first half.

Half-time, the interval. Ireland, 22. New Zealand, seven. Very little

to say about the Irish performance other than everything has been out

of the cup draw. They must be exhilarated, the important thing is

to be level-headed, remain disciplined. They will be times when

New Zealand comeback but that has been tremendous.

JOHN INVERDALE: We spoke about history before the match began and

certainly after these 40 minutes, it is there, tantalisingly within

reach. A great try by Conor Murray to start off with, his second

international try, he scored them both against the All Blacks, did he

not it forward? It does not matter. Rory Best's was given but then he

went off injured. And then a third try when Rob Kearney intercepted the

ball and run 80 metres will stop you thought the All Blacks would have to

come back at 19-0 and there is Julian Savea's try. But the big kick

from Jonny Sexton meaning that it stands at 22-7 at half-time and I

have to say if from Jonny Sexton meaning that it

stands at 22-7 at half-time you look at all the statistics there, Ireland

conceding just one penalty in the entire half. A supreme optimist

sitting on my left said that after 19 minutes, Ireland are leading by

19 points, I wonder if we can score 80. It is worth having some level of

humour. Nobody expects and nobody expected. We wanted a level of high

intensity and this week they came up with pure aggression and great

control and patients. This is why we love sport, we have been pumping the

air. Just three tries, Rob Kearney coming off the bench, I have never

seen people so pumped. They have gone Route one but they have played

quicker than New Zealand. And to score three tries against this team

in the first half is brilliant. We have been tried to look in the

record books and we just do not know at the moment but

record books and we just do not know Zealand were down 19 points in

international. It was important for Ireland to get ahead and

international. It was important for that in spades but the first try was

key. It was. A whole load of forward runners going in. They keep their

depth and when he runs in to get over it, he burst in over the

gain-line and Conor Murray snuck in around the back. He bangs the ball

down and it was important for Ireland that they do attack. For too

long this year, they have been running

long this year, they have been was about pace and aggression and

depth and suddenly, in Conor Murray goes. That, was it a try? I

depth and suddenly, in Conor Murray say it was a knock-on but the

referee said was a try so I will take his interpretation. Daylight on

the ball. It probably was not a try. It was. And Rory Best's was

definitely. Definitely. It came about again from forwards having a

go, Jamie Heaslip try to find a spot particular that what happens with

the defensive lines of the All Blacks, that gap, there is nobody

tucking in behind. And Sean O'Brien goes through a five metre gap. There

was a flood of Irish players coming in afterwards which has not happened

for a while. Of rugby teams go left or right but you can go Route one

through the middle. And if the All Blacks do not put the numbers in,

this is where the gap happens. This is a great finish but it all came

from this. The New Zealand, if they do not put the numbers and you can

go at it Route one. In that half, it was Ireland with the right decision.

Rory Best took a step right in and scored a great try. And five minutes

later he broke his arm. He is a much for the cause in this. We were

musing on effectively, two goals down, the All Blacks will not be

rattled but when a third try comes, even for the All Blacks, doubts must

creep in, surely? Be hit goes in at just the atmosphere here is

fantastic. If Ireland can score five tries, they can win this game. They

have got three already. They need to keep believing. Defence is fantastic

stop Kieran Read tracking back, Kearney against him, a great moment

for Rob here. The pace, they are taking the New Zealand team on Route

one and that is causing New Zealand to panic. Route one is getting the

ball and going in a straight line for people who do not understand?

Yes, people often go left all right but you can go Route one. There is

nothing worse than a team being broken through the middle of your

ruck. Great space. Defence can defend from a standing start. You

can still make the tackle if you have depth. This team will make the

tackle but you get over the gain-line, the ball carrier get

sober and suddenly there is a flood of forwards running onto it and that

is what Ireland have done and they have not done that for a while. They

did the exact opposite last week. The only certainty was not if New

Zealand would come back but when. A beautiful kick created this. Aaron

Cruden gets the ball there, beautiful recognition of space. The

huge area of the field but it is the deftness of the kick from his left

leg which bounced perfectly. Julian Savea has got a great strike rate.

That is just pure unadulterated quality. We are talking about the

great passing game of the New Zealand team, but they are also a

great kicking team and this is natural. They are coaching and

playing for this, that was as good skill as you can see. They kicked to

score and you kick into space, that was fantastic. Those are the tries

we have had but so many other aspects that are fascinating to

watch and enthralling and exhilarating. Ireland's porosity

from start to finish. Can they keep this up -- Ireland's ferocity. Paul

O'Connell with a level of aggression. We spoke last week over

the lack of intensity and I was happy on about that. This week, it

is pure, 100% but they never give up, crawl if you have to. Brian

O'Driscoll did great because he was not held. There is great thinking

behind all that. You talk a lot about winning collisions at the top

level and you saw Ireland win every collision. They really have won them

and it gets you going forward. If they can keep winning the

collisions, they could be in with a massive upset. For people like

O'Driscoll, this is the last throw of the dice to beat the All Blacks.

Somewhere some blandly that might be making him think the Mac

subliminally -- subliminally. I cannot even say that! I would say it

was front and centre, this is a drizzle's last go, that he wants to

stay. An awful lot of players owe him something in Ireland. In many

ways he has been the leading light for over ten years. Another aspect,

the restarts. Kicking it ten yards beyond the 22, it is almost

mandatory but today, they have been competitive and a team that I

kicking giving their own players to get the ball back. They say more

about the mindset of the team than most. New Zealand kick off and they

win the ball, it is so easy and such a negative thing to kick the ball

down field. A winning team will always try to get the ball back.

That is why New Zealand are such a great team but Ireland are doing the

same thing. Most teams kick long and they have gone for the ball and they

get the restart and they win it. It sets the tone of the game. It means

the team wants to play. Defensively you can kick the ball downfield but

the restart such a big heart of the game. That is the best 40 minutes of

all the international rugby matches so far but we have one more weekend

and that is next Saturday in Cardiff.

MUSIC: "Australia" by Manic Street Preachers.

And mention of Australia, ten years ago today, you were in Australia, a

nursing a hangover. I am sure you are exhausted about talking about it

because it seems like the ten year celebrations have been going on in

order Labour on a day like today when people have been mentioning to

you -- going on about it all day. You look back on a great period of

your life for the whole team. It was quite special and it just seems a

long time ago but coming here today, it just shows rugby union, that was

a pretty special moment, we came out the airport and the thousands of

people in the airport. Great memories but we have all moved on.

Ten years, we have got to put this to bed now and focus on the game

which is far more important. Until the 25th anniversary! The All Blacks

are out on the pitch, Ireland are receiving. Some serious

conversations to be had in the Irish dressing room. I suspect, same

again? Absolutely. Their mindset of running inside their own 22 and

behind their own goal-line, doing everything they possibly can to

score. New Zealand will score, we have no doubt about that. So Ireland

still need to score and plenty of them. Wouldn't want to be negative

but would you be saying as a coach, that New Zealand might score three

converted tries and therefore we have still got to score another ten?

The guys will be saying we have got a 40 minute game now, we have got to

win the second half. 0-0, win the second half. Islands need to score

two Micro -- Ireland need to score two more tries to win this. Ireland

emerge onto the pitch ear and Kieran Read, the All Black's number eight

is as they know exactly what the task in hand is for this next 40

minutes. If they do not play to their potential, he fears the All

Blacks will simply get embarrassed, that is the word he used.

JOHN INVERDALE: I read one paragraph in an Irish newspaper and I

thought, I wonder, I wonder and it said the will be the supreme

motivation for the Irish today and out of the comes a kind of mania.

Ireland will be manic today against the All Blacks, they are in a corner

and they have no other choice. Safe to say that if Ireland are manic for

the next 40 minutes, this might be one of the great days in the whole

of Irish sporting history but there is a long, long, long, long way to

go. Back to Eddie. COMMENTATOR: Difficult conversation

to have in the Irish dressing room. They won't have prepared for such a

lead. But they were so intelligent as well as intense. Can they keep it

going? A big question, can they keep it going? And what will we see from

the All Blacks? Because they need to bring the level of intensity that

Ireland have. That was a little scalp for short of

Brian. Getting in on an icon for him. It has two B said Jamie Heaslip

has probably raised his game. The wonderful motivating thing as an

individual, playing the best player in your position. So far, certainly

in that first half, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien have responded.

We are going to have a rake here. -- break. There is a breakdown in

communication. Nidal, we can hear you. You just cannot hear each

other. That was the sort of trick play that

we got in the first half that resulted in the best run. It has

been thrown in just to make the All Blacks think. That is illustrative

of how an infield. -- how Ireland feel. Changes in the All Black

ranks. Hooker calls comes an instead of four. That might be a farewell

from Andrew Hore. First he has to do his job here, because this is an

area which has not gone well for New Zealand. All about concentration.

Whether or not you are committed to it.

And Vantage being played. Knock-on by New Zealand. Ireland have the

put-in. It happened and the ball was about but there was an Irish player

who fired into that breakdown, that pushed the preceding all-black just

a couple of inches back, and that delayed the pass. Whether that has

multiplied as you pass it along behind... The Irish defence was then

about two yards further up. Really small things are going well for

Ireland. They are doing the things that really count. Sean Cronin

replacement against Dane Coles Hosmer replacement. -- Dane Coles'

replacement. A free kick to New Zealand. Taken by

keirin read. Just little bits of lack of

discipline creeping in. New Zealand opting for a scrummage

from the free kick. Ireland must not did them things,

must not give them things by arguing back on the decisions.

REFEREE: Is you do not listen, you do not know what is going to happen.

You cannot be much clearer, can you? That little switch direction from

the scrum-half, found Aaron Cruden on the loop. Conor Murray did well

to make the tackle. Peter O'Mahony puts a monster boot

on it. It has gone loose, Cian Healy tears

forward. A knock-on advantage to New Zealand. Israel Dagg is there new

hooker, for New Zealand. Penalty advantage now. Penalty

given. We are in that crucial first ten of

this second-half. Nobody really getting an edge here. New Zealand

threatening to get themselves back into this game, Ireland need to get

out of their half. Kieran Read and Aaron Cruden discuss

tactics. Dane Coles well throw in, New

Zealand have reduced the numbers, just four in the line-out.

REFEREE: Scrum down, turnover ball. New Zealand have the put-in. It was

a poor throw from Dane Coles. He got in there well, Devin Toner,

he is tall, that is why he is there, he has improved his general

play and ball carrying. And that is why Ireland are now making full

advantage of that. The height it gives him.

REFEREE: I want to check if that touched. We are going upstairs

again. I genuinely think not many people knew whether or not that had

gone down. REFEREE: I just want to check there was a hand underneath

the wall as it went to the line. Thank you.

He has got to see the ground. Cannot see it from there. Nor there. There

is a hand under that. And it is short, anyway.

REFEREE: Showed me that other angle again, please. OK, can I tell you

what I have seen? Unless you tell me any different, from a different

angle, it looks to me as though the ball is held up with an arm

underneath. I am with you on that. If Nigel Owens is going to watch it

on the screen and make his own mind up, why do you need the TV match

official? They got there in the end. I am not saying there is anything

wrong with it but if the referees can do that... Is that the moment?

This ten minute period is coming to an end. We are nearly up to 50

minutes and Ireland are still in the lead by 22-7. You cannot really see

it but Savea is as close as he can get to this touchline. He has 20

metres outside. Tommy Bowden goes into play scrum

half. The heroic scrum half is New -- is buried. Penalty to New

Zealand. Devin Toner. That is just dull. It is, but there

was one in the first half that wasn't even and I do not see a huge

amount of difference. They had done the brilliant work. They had waited

for so long. That was about eight minutes. They had turned the ball

and done all the hard work. The other thing is, he would have got it

anyway. The upshot is that Aaron Cruden is going for goal.

12 minutes into the second half and the gap closes. The first half was

penalties conceded by Ireland. Unfortunately, Ireland are giving

away penalties in the second half. They must stop that. Although if you

had said at the beginning of that period, eight minutes will pass on

the clock and we will only give three points away, you probably

would have said it was a fair swap. We are waiting for Brian O'Driscoll

to return from having attention there. Just going over the ten metre

line. He will take some shifting of this field today, although it seems

he is going off. Substitution for an edge.

Brian O'Driscoll making the tackle. Brodie Retallick. Sean O'Brien with

yet another tackle. Fabulous catch. What an important tackle that was

from Peter O'Mahony. Penalty to New Zealand. Peter

O'Mahony limps away. REFEREE: What did I ask you earlier

clearly? I asked you quite clearly that there, down you go. Sean

O'Brien was having the lecture! I was about to say just before that,

before he hung on that he had done the right work must load the ball

down, and then let go of the ball, the Irish defence had already

managed to recoup because of his work, just that bit too far and

whether you agree with it or not the referee tells you, you have got to

stop. If I have to speak to him again, it may well be more than a

penalty. The Amber alert, the yellow warning. This is a matter of

subjective opinion. The way that Nigel Owens talks to players, the

way he controls a game, he is top drawer. Very clear and concise.

A miss by Aaron Cruden, Brian O'Driscoll from the touch-line.

Replacement for Ireland. Kevin McLaughlin comes into the back row.

What a game the number six as hard. Peter O'Mahony.

Penalty advantage being played, penalty to Ireland. Relief floods

the stands and the field. I tell you what Luke Fitzgerald did well there.

Well, there we go. Here we have this. Ma'a Nonu goes down, people

will be saying you have to let him of that you don't at all. You can

get penalties like they did there. Good knowledge of the rules.

Ireland RLE in this second-half but are in New Zealand territory --

Ireland rarely. Rob Kearney still going! Ma'a Nonu

comes across. New Zealand with the changes. Sonia,

any news on Brian O'Driscoll? He is standing with his head in his hands,

he has been ripping the tape off his wrists, he is very disgruntled but

under the new pitch side concussion assessment, the match day Doctor has

assessed him and has viewed that he has in fact exhibited signs of

concussion so he will not be allowed to come back on and finish this

game. Very unhappy, Brian O'Driscoll. Owen Franks is on for

New Zealand. Ireland could have done with getting

points out that visit but they have not stop paying, they are still

trying to force a score. They need to keep doing this. If they go into

their shells, they will bring this New Zealand side on to them but

territory is vital for Ireland. Ben Franks comes on, we have a pair of

brothers on the New Zealand side now as well. Ben Franks and Owen Franks

and we also have Ryan Crotty. Rob Kearney sorts it out again. The

ball is out of play, the crowd think it was taken in the air.

REFEREE: You jumped and landed into him. Do you want to check are we

happy to go? Time out. We will check. They are having a cheque.

My first instinct is he caught it and landed into him so unless that

Black has wilfully taken it in the air, we will carry on. Have a look

for me please. No, that is in the air. The crowd

read that one right. Penalty here, back you go. The

decision is made. That is the reason he was very

annoyed. It is because he was in the air. Nigel Owens reversing his

original thoughts. On the presentation of proper evidence. And

the important thing for Ireland is to get a penalty from this. We are

into the last quarter of the game. Jonathan Sexton in no hurry to take

this. Nor should he be. Don't be too ambitious. The touch safely found.

Last Ireland will be looking at the clock ticking down, alongside that,

New Zealand have got to score tries. There is a decent margin here

providing they stay disciplined and controlled.

Forget the statistics about New Zealand not having possession, they

have the Lion 's share in this half.

Here goes Franks again. I think he has got that down. Looks like the

try will be awarded. REFEREE: The try is good. It is.

Blood pouring from his eye but Owen Franks is the try scorer.

A reward for New Zealand doing what Ireland did in the first half. Going

through the phases, getting quick, and that is a try.

His brother, Ben Franks, is over. That is what Ireland did not want to

have, New Zealand with a score with 15 minutes left on the clock. They

have just stopped playing a bit, Ireland. They have conceded

territory and have not enabled to spend enough time in New Zealand's

have and they are bringing New Zealand onto them a bit. They got

the penalty but they are seeding territory and possession back to New

Zealand. Aaron Cruden not put off by the

charging Irish players, seven points for the All Blacks, 22-17. A

converted try and the All Blacks will be in the lead. Julian Savea,

that was the run that started the surge to the line. LM crowd you

highlighted the problem, Ireland wanted to get down there for

territory. In doing so they turned the ball over and found they had not

had enough possession and New Zealand are able to take the

initiative and then get the penalties and go forward. Whilst

Ireland do want to do that, it is important to play three phases.

White aggro like McCarthy is on. In the front

row, Declan Fitzpatrick is on. Fresh legs. Ireland lead by five points.

It has been an immense physical effort. How much have they got in

the tank? Just enough to sustain the intensity and take them home?

Ireland looking for the turnover but it comes their way via the penalty.

Irish players scattered over the field. Paul O'Connell is up. Ryan

Kearney gets to his feet. Elsewhere, there are players down.

Jaimie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien are the top tacklers. They have really

put their bodies on the line. Heaney comes off. Jack McGraw comes on for

Ireland. On the far side, we still have a player down. While the Irish

scrum defence it wonders there to keep the queue -- Kiwis out... That

sort of cross kick, if it lands in or around the line, fine. If they

had courted and gone on to the 22, with players around him and no

momentum and possibly held up... When you have not had the ball for a

significant irate of time and conceded, white kick it away?

Knock-on by New Zealand. Ten minutes to go. Ireland five points in front.

This might be the ten minutes of these Irish players' life, but to be

honest these are the biggest ten minutes of a rugby nation's life, a

site that they have not beaten before. Your heart, soul and body on

the line. If the crowd could kick it home for them they would.

It does not take rocket science to work out what the rocket science is

here. Catch and drive all day long. Easier said than done sometimes.

Destiny is a tantalising nine minutes away. New Zealand have one

26 out of 27 fixtures. There was a draw.

Penalty to an end! New Zealand take it down. -- penalty to Ireland!

There is a world of difference to New Zealand against five and eight

points. It is not his favourite kick in the world. It is not his

favourite side will -- favourite side.

He has got the 15 metres in. talk about margins, there was doubt

right up to kick-off time as to whether Jonathan Sexton but the able

to start this game and there is a surprise for many that he has been

able to recover from the hamstring so quickly.

It slides past the post. Five points. Time of the clock is

probably an advantage and not an insignificant one there.

Irish throw just inside the New Zealand half. Hugely important,

that. It gives our event the throw from where they will drive the ball

game. -- it gives Ireland the throw. Johnny Sexton comes off. I do not

think he has been at 100 assent today. He is definitely carrying

something. But Ireland are winding down the clock. Ian Madigan is on as

outside half. Ireland are safely down in New

Zealand territory, as referee said advantage over. You can hardly hear

yourself think in here. They can bring down the clock from

here. And on come the little charges by

the replacements. Penalty to New Zealand. Jack McGraw penalised.

One last defensive set to go through.

Conor Murray still making his tackles.

New Zealand so close to keeping their one and percent that 100%

record alive. Gordon D'Arcy brings him down.

It is going to be the drive. For Ryan Crotty. The whistle has gone,

players are littered across the field.

REFEREE: Just check the pass, please. Checking for the only thing

that will prevent what you have to say, if it is a try, was a

phenomenal passage of play. We said that they were the best chase down

team in the world. The one little penalty. That is backwards, that is

a try. Dane Coles, the replacement hooker,

to Ryan Crotty, the replacement. REFEREE: Be second to last one, not

the last. The one to 23 looks OK to me, look at the one before. From the

fly half? OK. Look at them both. That is not forward either. His

hands were going backwards. We wait to see any pass has gone

forward. It appears not. OK Nigel, you may award the try. The

pass is fine, the passes were fine. The pass is fine and I may award the

try. The try has been awarded. The score is 22-22 and Aaron Cruden as

the kick to win the game. The kick to make the New Zealand All Blacks

the only team in the professional age from the top tier to go through

a calendar year having won all of their games.

One of the reasons why so many people, myself included, love sport

is because this is drama writ large and this will be the most awful of

endings for Ireland if it goes over. We may have to wait did Ireland is

to soon? Kieran Read may have another go at it. They can't stop

moving until he starts moving. -- cart starts moving. That is the

second time that has happened today. This time, Ireland cannot charge.

And this time they will not be allowed to. He has pushed the last

one so they will be no correction this time. A second bite. A second

bite at the kick. Second time, he gets it right and

New Zealand have one. What has to be one of the most pulsating games of

rugby union that we will ever have the privilege of watching. It was a

fantastic game of rugby and New Zealand have won it by the

slenderest of margins, they have beaten Ireland by 24-22. New Zealand

won that game, they were dominated by what you could say was the best

part of 80 minutes. They played a hell of a lots of rugby in order to

win that and that is what they do. Awful for Ireland, heartbreaking for

Brian O'Driscoll. What can you say? It was an effort which deserved...

In fact, in sport it doesn't count what you deserve, a tremendous

effort from Ireland. They were unlucky, New Zealand... What can you

say? Winners. Final score here at the Aviva Stadium Ireland's, 22, New

Zealand, 24. JOHN INVERDALE: Some of the last

words we said before the game began, even when they are on the ropes,

they somehow from somewhere inexplicably sometimes, they find

the sucker punch and they found it again. That particular chapter in

Irish sporting history remains still to be written. It was magnificent on

every level and every degree. An incredible performance by Ireland

and at the end of it all, with that last passage of play which was off

the chart, probably proved that that is why they are the team that they

are. It was truly outstanding and gut-wrenching and I have had

butterflies for the first time in many a year. What on earth do you

say in circumstances like this, Clive? You have to take your hat off

that was a magnificent game of rugby, Ireland deserved to win. They

just lost a bit of composure at the end. One bit of indiscipline and

away it goes. To get so close is just awful. you talk about emotion

in sport, I can tell you that in this particular instance, we are

looking at the Irish players, that is the loneliest place in the world.

At the back of 80 minutes of the best performance of their lives and

it is drama where it hit in the final moments. -- and it is drawn

away in the final moments. Also a superb piece of refereeing. We have

had to talk about referees and their interpretation throughout the autumn

internationals. Each and everyone of those players respect them, listens

to what they are saying and adheres to it. And he has a great rapport

with the players but he delivered the cars we never had to comment on

whether he was having an influence, he was making the game flow --

deliver the game. It was tantalising. That is why we love the

sport. That was the Ireland team's chance.

It will take a lot of recovery because they should have won the

game and you just have to close the game out and it really needs correct

thinking. They have that one penalty, the Sexton penalty, just

lost those vital moments in the last couple of minutes. We said

throughout, a phenomenal atmosphere but it is very quiet now let's get

out is very quiet now let's go down to Sonia. Sean, what a dramatic end

to that test match. Can you give me an idea of what the emotions are at

the moment. Obviously we are not happy. Losing a game like that,

starting so well and not being able to finish them off. We'll have to

look at ourselves and see where we can improve. Especially in the

second half, we let them play away too much. We said we should go out

after half-time and go after them and maybe we did not do that. They

do not know when they are beaten, do they, the All Blacks? That is maybe

what we need, the belief. We knew they go right to the last minute. We

need to keep working that out. At half-time, the question was can you

play like that for 80 minutes? Did you believe you could? I do. There

is a bit of trust needed in the last two minutes. It is just very

disappointing. We will have to assess it. Next time we get into

camp. Thank you. Cheers for the JOHN INVERDALE: When the history of this

much is it is unfair on Jonny Sexton to

allude to it because it would given Ireland a two stroke lead.

On such fine margins are the history books written. It is great to see

you showing such a motion under half of Ireland, Clive! He did coach

London Irish. That was the chance to do it. If that went over, Ireland

would have won the game, yes, you can say that but there were several

elements where Ireland could have held onto the ball more and closed

out the game. It was important for world rugby because this is a good

New Zealand team but not the best of all time and they can be beaten.

They have won every game this year but I just feel Ireland showed the

world you can big this team. Everyone knows this team can be

beaten and it is good for the World Cup and it will show that this is

great for Irish rugby because this is a serious Irish team. A slightly

run out of steam. If they had been slightly bitter, they could have

perhaps one it -- slightly fitter. Ireland led New Zealand 20 17 and

then lost 4029 in another game. I thought let's not mention that

because let's not tempt fate but it has come to pass again. The

difference to now, we got blown away with 15 minutes to go. Two

absolutely incredible passages of play. Today was different from that

much you talked about. It shows you, the level of aggression. It

shows you that even having had such a poor performance last week, to be

able to have a performance of magnificence and still be upset at

the end of it, that shows you where the team has gone. It has been a

privilege to be here. What an unbelievable match we have seen.

Again that they will never forget, everybody involved. A shame it ends

from a parochial sense on a downer but as well as at these pictures of

the All Blacks, they are a phenomenal team. Only two teams have

ever come back from 19 points down to win a match so they join an

illustrious band. All year it has been proven and yet again in Dublin

today. There is nothing like the black stuff. Goodbye.