Ireland beat New Zealand in pulsating victory as All Blacks’ record-breaking run ends

Ireland secured their biggest win under head coach Andy Farrell as they beat New Zealand 29-20 in a box office Test match in Dublin.

The All Blacks arrived at the Aviva Stadium in record-breaking form, but the top-ranked side in the world’s flying run was grounded by a bold Ireland team buoyed by a boisterous crowd in the capital.

It was a deserved result for the hosts, who held on to claim a famous victory in the Autumn Nations Series.

Farrell’s side controlled the majority of the Test, with a trio of tries from James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher and Caelan Doris setting a solid foundation.

But a hat-trick of late penalties from Joey Carbery ultimately proved crucial as New Zealand – in true All Blacks fashion – remained in touching distance throughout.

The visitors lost influential fly-half Beauden Barrett to injury early on, but the three-time world champions refused to lie down despite the early blow and the hosts’ commanding attack. 

Codie Taylor and Will Jordan scored tries to keep Ian Foster’s men in the contest, while Akira Ioane had a score chalked off.

New Zealand threatened to steal what would have been an unmerited victory when Ioane dotted down, but it was eventually ruled out for a forward pass and they had to settle for just the consolation of another Barrett penalty.

New Zealand had arrived in Dublin in record-breaking form, having scored an unprecedented 675 points and 96 tries in winning 12 of 13 fixtures this calendar year.

But they could have few complaints about the end result as Ireland impressively registered only a third win from 33 meetings with their opponents – partially avenging their 2019 World Cup quarter-final exit which marked the end of Joe Schmidt’s reign in charge.

Before kick-off, Ireland – perhaps boosted by a letter of support from United States President Joe Biden, who has Irish ancestry – had met the Haka by taking a collective stride forward, before a rendition of The Fields of Athenry broke out among the stadium’s first capacity crowd for a rugby game in almost two years.

And the night ended with the team’s seventh-successive win, prompting a deafening noise from the delirious terraces followed by a lap of honour.

Ireland, who complete their autumn campaign at home to Argentina next weekend, will embark on a three-Test tour of New Zealand next summer, and the All Blacks will now be thirsty for revenge.