All Blacks win Chicago ‘Rematch’ with Ireland

Ireland 13-26 New Zealand

Photo: Leslie Smith

CHICAGO, IL—The second largest crowd to watch rugby in the history of the United States were treated to a competitive test match between Ireland and the All Blacks of New Zealand. Nine years ago at Soldier Field, the Irish were triumphant for the first time ever against New Zealand. This year was billed at “The Rematch” and this time, the All Blacks got the better of Ireland, 26-13, before a sellout crowd of 61,841.

It didn’t take long for controversy to occur. In the third minute, Beauden Barrett was hit by an upright tackle by Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne after receiving a pass. A TMO review initially gave Beirne a yellow card, but it went to review by the foul play review official and it was upgraded to a red deeming there was no mitigation and a high degree of danger.

Barrett felt ‘gutted’ for Beirne after the match.

“I spoke to Tadhg after the game and I was gutted for him,” said Barrett.

“It was one of those unfortunate parts of the game. I didn’t expect the ball. I was hoping that Cam [Roigard] would have played the other option.

“He didn’t intentionally put a shoulder on me. I can’t hide from the fact that I copped a shoulder to somewhere up there, that’s what happened, but I’ll support him in terms of mitigating whatever happens next. I don’t feel there’s any intention there, it’s just unfortunate.”

The red meant that Ireland would play with 14 men for 20 minutes. Yet, it would be Ireland that would take more initiative shortly after the red card. They got a penalty goal from Jack Crowley to get on the board first and then got a try from Tadgh Furlong that was converted to take a 10-0.

Almost immediately though, the All Blacks responded with a converted try of their own as Ardie Savea completed a run that was started by Will Jordan continued with beautiful passing leading to Savea scoring.

Ireland added another Crowley penalty in the 51st minute, but it would be the final 20 minutes where the All Blacks would exert their authority. Tamati Williams would get a try in the 62nd minute that was converted by Beaudin Barrett to put the All Blacks ahead. Another pair of replacements would make an impact four minutes later as Wallace Sititi finished off a run from Damian McKenzie. The Irish could not find another gear and the match was effectively finished off three minutes from time with a try by Cam Roigard.

Beaudin Barrett ended up being the only Barrett to finish the match as Scott left in the fourth minute with a leg laceration and Jordi went out later with a leg injury of his own.

After the match, much discussion was made about the red card to Beirne.

“I’m all for the safest way possible for this game to move forward, so you’ve got to be careful what you say in that regard,” said Ireland coach Andy Farrell. ”But to me, if you look at it in real time, I don’t know how it was transferred to that.”

New Zealand had been sloppy for the first sixty minutes of the match, especially on lineouts, but got it together in the final 20.

“[We] got a bit of momentum in that second half and executed and just kept the pressure on them,” said New Zealand coach Scott Robertson. “We just couldn’t execute enough in that first half. You know, got into their 22 four times, gave up a few line outs and lost a couple of Barrets.

“We got back in it second half and actually held the ball for long periods of time, and put pressure back on them. So, it was good. There was definitely two halves wasn’t there, and it was great to get some flow and just really pleased everyone that stepped up.”

The All Blacks will look to take the second step in their quest for a “Grand Slam” against the Home Nations when they play Scotland, next Saturday, at Murrayfield. Scotland thrashed the USA, 85-0, in Edinburgh on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ireland will return home to host Japan next Saturday.

Photos by Leslie Smith

TRIES:
IRE: Furlong 16
NZL: Savea 19, Williams 62, Sititi 67, Roigard 77

CONVERSIONS:
IRE: Crowley 17
NZL: B. Barrett 20, 63, 67

PENALTIES:
IRE: Crowley 7, 51
NZL:

RED CARDS:
IRE: Beirne 3
NZL:

IRELAND: #1-Andrew Porter, #2-Dan Sheehan (captain), #3-Tadhg Furlong, #4-James Ryan, #5-Tadhg Beirne, #6-Ryan Baird, #7-Josh van der Flier, #8-Jack Conan, #9-Jamison Gibson-Park, #10-Jack Crowley, #11-James Lowe, #12-Stuart McCloskey, #13-Garry Ringrose, #14-Tommy O’Brien, #15- Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: #16-Ronan Kelleher, #17-Paddy McCarthy, #18-Finlay Bealham, #19-Iain Henderson, #20- Caelan Doris, #21-Craig Casey, #22-Sam Prendergast, #23-Bundee Aki

NEW ZEALAND: #1-Ethan de Groot, #2-Codie Taylor, #3-Fletcher Newell, #4-Scott Barrett (captain), #5-Fabian Holland, #6-Simon Parker, #7-Ardie Savea, #8-Peter Lakai, #9-Cam Roigard, #10-Beauden Barrett, #11-Caleb Clarke, #12-Jordie Barrett, #13-Quinn Tupaea, #14-Leroy Carter, #15-Will Jordan

Replacements: #16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, #17-Tamaiti Williams, #18-Pasilio Tosi, #19-Josh Lord, #20-Wallace Sititi, #21-Cortez Ratima, #22-Leicester Fainga’anuku, #23-Damian McKenzie

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)
Assistant 1: Kari Dickson (ENG)
Assistant 2: Luc Ramos (FRA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (ENG)
FPRO: Dan Jones (ENG)
Attendance: 61,841
Man of the Match: Beaudin Barrett (NZL)