Rennie's verdict on All Blacks' performance following Ireland thrashing

REACTION: All Black coach Dave Rennie said he was “really rapt” after New Zealand unfurled a commanding first-half performance to beat Ireland 40-21 on Saturday and extend their remarkable unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 53 matches.

*Also read:New Zealand pummel Ireland to extend Eden Park Record

The All Blacks scored four of their six tries in the first spell to lead 28-7 at the interval, setting up a third win from three matches in the inaugural Nations Championship.

Playing their final game of the season, Ireland failed to mount a sustained assault on the home side’s 32-year-old record in Auckland,

They paid for an error-riddled start in which they missed too many tackles and made fundamental handling mistakes.

Rennie described New Zealand’s performance as “clinical” and an improvement on their wins over France and Italy as they went three-from-three in the Nations Championship.

“Yeah, really rapt. They’re such a good side, Ireland, and we asked a lot of questions of them,” Rennie told reporters.

“I thought the balance of our game was really good tonight. Our big men carried, we were a little bit more direct, and there was smarter kicking.

“They came here with a lot of confidence and with a very experienced squad who play a lot of footy together. We’re quite a new group.”

Ireland improved as the match progressed but couldn’t add to this month’s Nations Championship wins over the Wallabies and Japan in Australia.

Patrick Tuipulotu scored New Zealand’s opening try, bursting onto a short pass from fellow lock Josh Lord.

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‘The first punch’

Captain Ardie Savea doubled New Zealand’s lead to 14-0 when he stormed straight across from the back of a scrum, carrying two defenders with him.

“I think it’s all been in the mindset,” said the No.8 Savea.

“We talked about throwing the first punch, and you know we got a lead in the first five minutes, so that was a start.

“You’ve got to give credit to the Irish – they’re real quality. But we’re stoked to get the win.”

The hosts were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes when flanker Luke Jacobson was shown a yellow card after a dangerous ruck cleanout.

Ireland capitalised when back-row forward Jack Conan powered over from close range.

Any threat of a fightback was extinguished when New Zealand wing Will Jordan swooped on a spilt pass to score his sixth try in three Tests.

Replacement hooker Asafo Aumua’s try on the stroke of half-time all but consigned Ireland to a fourth straight loss to New Zealand.

“The All Blacks are a classy outfit, and they’ll punish you if you’re not on your A game. And at times we weren’t,” said Ireland captain Dan Sheehan.

“We wanted to test ourselves against the best. We know where we are now, and we know the work we have to do because it’s a big, big year coming up leading up to the World Cup.”

Impressive Ireland lock Joe McCarthy opened the scoring in a more even second half before New Zealand fullback and player-of-the-match Damian McKenzie responded.

Ireland’s Hugo Keenan crossed in the corner with nearly 20 minutes still to play, but the visitors struggled to create attacking chances.

New Zealand replacement back Anton Lienert-Brown had the final say with a try in the corner.

The All Blacks’ next assignment is a tour of South Africa starting next month, where the All Blacks will play four Tests against the world champions.

Rennie reported that hooker Codie Taylor had suffered a calf strain and would be a doubt for the opening matches of the tour.

Ireland “never really got going”

On the flipside, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said his side were closer to the All Blacks than the scoreline suggested in the 21-40 defeat, but conceded his side “never really got going” after an error-strewn start.

Farrell could not explain why his team’s vibrant attacking game spluttered in Auckland, especially in a muddled first half as they went to the break 7-28 down.

But he was proud of Ireland’s response in an evenly contested second period and believed he and his players would learn a lot as they build for next year’s World Cup in Australia.

“I think the two sides are certainly closer than that, and I suppose the only thing that matters is how both teams keep on improving over the next 15 months,” Farrell said.

“We are full of pride because of the fight etc, but we are disappointed with how it unfolded in accuracy over a few parts of our game.

“It’s uncharacteristic really because it is something that you do not see, certainly on a daily basis, but that is what big matches do to you, and that is a lesson that has got to be learned, that’s for sure.

“Whether it be passing into touch or intercept passing or whatever, the flow of our game never really got going.

“But how we struck at it and kept on fighting is there for everyone to see.”

Farrell was reluctant to comment on an incident in the first half in which New Zealand flanker Luke Jacobson was shown a yellow card after he collided with the head of Irish forward Josh van der Flier at the breakdown.

The Ireland coach was asked if he believed the incident warranted the card being upgraded to red.

“There were incidents all over the field tonight that you could talk about, and we are not able to do that, so I will pass on that one,” he said.