-
Ireland's Sean Cronin attempts to get away from Anthony Boric of New Zealand - Source: Photosport -
Related
Unlike last weekend, when the All Blacks hammered a mediocre Scottish side, today's Test was top-class and played by two very good sides.
Ireland's first half was quite outstanding and the All Blacks really had to pull out all stocks to take the lead on the stroke of halftime.
If the Irish had a held on to their lead going into the break it may have been a different story but to the All Blacks credit they came out after break and scored two beautiful tries.
And at the end of the day, that was difference between the two sides. The All Blacks were just a little bit more clinical and every time they got an opportunity they took it.
The Irish showed a lot of fight, as I knew they would, but there was always that feeling of inevitability about the whole thing. There was no way the Irish could keep pace for the whole 80 minutes and those two tries to Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock after halftime ended up being the difference.
The skill-factor, in those two movements especially, was a class above what the Irish could offer with ball in hand and that is what sets the All Blacks apart from every Northern Hemisphere team.
But the most pleasing thing from my perspective was that the All Blacks cut the silly mistakes out of their game. The passes stuck and they chose their moments well and that shows a real maturity in their game.
The All Blacks have slowly learnt they don't have to play this attack-at-all-cost, high-tempo game all the time. Today we actually played some rugby that was more methodical. We took the three points when they were on offer, and piled up the points through territorial advantage.
And that's what it's all about. Every time you enter a team's half you should aim to come away with points. Doesn't matter how you get them. Just stack them up and that's what All Blacks are starting to do and I like that approach.
In terms of individuals, I would like to make special mention of Anthony Boric. When Brad Thorn pulled out in the lead-in to this Test you could hear a collective sigh throughout New Zealand but I thought Boric really stood up today.
He made his tackles, performed his set-piece basics, ran strongly and scored a nice try. And that's what it's all about for modern day tight-forwards -- work-rate.
And you never know.... the old man of the team might not be around next year but in Boric and Whitlelock, who I think complement each other really well, life after Brad might not be so bad.
Buck Shelford is a former All Blacks captain and will be commenting on their performances for tvnz.co.nz throughout the international season.
