Ireland beat All Blacks in New Zealand for first time

Monday, 11 July 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: A disciplined and clinical Ireland beat the All Blacks on New Zealand soil for the first time on Saturday with a deserved 23-12 victory in Dunedin, taking full advantage after the hosts had lost Angus Ta’avao to a red card in the first half.

Prop Andrew Porter scored two tries and skipper Johnny Sexton added 13 points from the kicking tee as Ireland squared the three-match series 1-1 ahead of next week’s decider in Wellington.

Ireland had played 13 tests in New Zealand without success before taking to the field under the Otago Stadium roof to hand the All Blacks their first home defeat since South Africa won in Wellington in 2018.“Delighted, no team has ever done it before,” Sexton said. “We’re delighted with the win but we have a chance to win a series here, and they don’t come along too often.”

Six years after their first victory over the All Blacks in more than a century of trying, Ireland have now won four of the last seven encounters with the three-times world champions.