The All Blacks have shown flashes of brilliance in every Test this year but that wasn’t what got them across the line against Ireland in Dublin this morning for a 23-13 victory that must rate as the best and most significant of Scott Robertson’s reign.
There was one piece of magic in the drizzle at the Aviva Stadium at the end of a working week in Ireland’s capital – the try for Will Jordan, his 37th in 39 Tests, with 11 minutes to go.
But more broadly and importantly, it was their composure and ability to quickly get on the same wavelength as the referee, in this case Australian Nic Berry – two things that Scott Robertson’s men have not been good at over 12 Tests in 2024 – which built a performance that feels like a turning point.
This was not a vintage Irish performance. The world No.1 side, who have now lost that top ranking, were as combative as usual, but they increasingly lacked accuracy and discipline, and Andy Farrell’s decision to replace Jack Crowley with Ciaran Frawley was not a good one in hindsight.
They were gunning for New Zealand after the All Blacks’ dogged World Cup quarter-final win just over 12 months ago, and particularly centre Rieko Ioane for his advice for the retiring Jonny Sexton but as it turned out, Ioane, who led the haka in the absence of the injured Codie Taylor, didn’t merely have the first word but the last laugh, too.
It was the mostly accurate work and the visitors' set piece prowess that was the difference between the two sides but that isn't to say the All Blacks did not have stand-out players.
Hooker Asafo Aumua was immense after playing 77 minutes against England at Twickenham last weekend, with Damian McKenzie similarly influential.
McKenzie kicked six from eight attempts and mostly tempered his wilder instincts to deliver an assured and restrained performance which put the All Blacks in the right places and eventually comfortably got them home.
“Asafo has played in every game for us this year,” Robertson said. “The same with DMac – we [started] him in seven games in a row this year and we get a game out of him like that at the end of the year.
“You’ve got to give guys time and opportunity and trust them. Most importantly, they have to trust themselves and their skillset. Asafo, that last lineout at the end on our 22 – he absolutely nailed it after that not-straight in the first half.
“He could have probably questioned himself but he didn’t and DMac was as mercurial as normal. He trusted his instinct and it was a hell of a night for him. Great off the boot.”
There was also a significant achievement by try-scorer Jordan, now even with the late Jonah Lomu's record of 37 tries but achieved in far fewer Tests - 39 compared with the great's 63.
For all of Ireland’s excellence in building a 19-win record at home, they are not a good chasing side and so for the All Blacks to build that buffer and watch as their opponents self-destructed in the face of scoreboard pressure will probably please Robertson more than anything. That, and the way the visitors absorbed the yellow card for Jordie Barrett late in the first half.
“We had adversity before and after halftime, so I’m pleased, stoked, to get a result like that,” Robertson said.
Like last weekend at Twickenham, Robertson’s bench, and in particular the tight forward back-ups, created an energy and momentum that caught their opponents on the hop.
“We’ve got a group of guys now who actually come off the bench and make an impact now,” he said. “It’s good to bring experienced players on and [for them to] do their job.”
For skipper Scott Barrett, who appeared furious in the first half when seeing what he felt was foul play by lock Joe McCarthy against McKenzie, there was satisfaction to be had in silencing the home crowd.
As for his confrontation with McCarthy, he said: “I don’t usually take exception but I saw something that was below the line for me. I guess I had to make a point that ‘not tonight you’re targeting our 10 like that’.”
Asked what he saw, Barrett said: “I was getting up from a ruck and Joe cleaned him up. From where I saw it, it was around his head. Whether it was or not I’m not too sure but I took exception to that.
“It looked like a shoulder to the head on a man on the ground who was our 10, so…”
So, indeed.
The All Blacks will travel to Paris for next weekend’s assignment against France with renewed confidence and momentum after an excellent result that could have lasting rewards in terms of a foundation heading into next year.
Their major issues will be the way they lost the ball in contact too often – although Ireland did this and more and as the game wore on – and the way halfback Cortez Ratima struggled so much at the back of a messy breakdown. The more robust Cam Roigard was more assured there when he came on after 51 minutes.
“They were really targeting us, particularly on our ball,” Barrett said. “At times our body height was a bit high and they were able to disrupt and give Cortez some messy ball. I guess that’s on us – that’s the first thing to address next week.”
To Paris and then, finally, Milan to play Italy. The All Blacks’ increasingly successful northern roadshow continues.
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