DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland beat the All Blacks 16-9 at home for the first time on Saturday and laid a major marker for the Rugby World Cup next year.
The blockbuster matchup of No. 1 and No. 2, the champions of each hemisphere, lived up to the hype. Ireland edged a rugged first half, and in a more open second half produced a classic try and kept New Zealand tryless for the first time in more than four years.
At a highly charged Lansdowne Road, Ireland became the only team to beat New Zealand twice since the All Blacks won a second straight Rugby World Cup in 2015. The first time was in 2016 in Chicago, Ireland's first win over New Zealand in 111 years.
Even with that mental block gone, this victory was far more impressive: New Zealand was closer to full strength, and far more aware of Ireland's threats.
But it didn't matter.
Even after enduring a hugely physical first half that was exhausting just to watch, Ireland had the wherewithal to perfectly execute a try-scoring move from a lineout near halfway. Flyhalf Jonathan Sexton switched play to Bundee Aki running back to the short side, and wing Jacob Stockdale chipped ahead. He brushed past the surprised All Blacks, regathered and slid in from five meters out.
Sexton converted from wide out for 16-6 with half an hour to go, and put the pressure right back on the All Blacks.
But they limited them to just one more penalty.
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