0
Ireland were swatted aside with ease as New Zealand completed the second leg of their Grand Slam tour with a comfortable 22-3 debut victory at Croke Park.
Second-half tries from Ma’a Nonu and Brad Thorn ensured Brian O’Driscoll’s 50th Test as captain ended in crushing disappointment.
A penalty try awarded when Tommy Bowe cynically palmed the ball out of bounds with Richie McCaw waiting to score set the All Blacks on their way.
Ireland were holding their own but Bowe’s error in first-half injury-time - which also earnt him a yellow card - gave the All Blacks a 10-3 interval lead.
A high-tempo spell shortly after the break yielded tries for Nonu and Thorn, sealing the outcome and allowing New Zealand to maintain their mastery of the Irish.
Declan Kidney’s side were their own worst enemies for much of the new coach’s second match in charge, crippled by a huge error count which ensured the Tri-Nations champions were never under sustained pressure
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugb...s-1541296.html