Ireland Swatted Aside with Ease

[Thequeerone]

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

[Thequeerone]

The 2 new zealand tries were run in around Paul O' Connell who was so badly injured he couldn't run - never mind stop a "Nonu" in full flight - did anyone think to replace the injured player - NO - what a travesty - so angry - no other Lock Forward on the bench so they let the poor man hobble around the pitch for 15 mins like quasimodo in the bleeding Notre Dame of Irish Rugby.

[Elf1]

Quasimodo and not a bell in sight eh TQ1

[welshrugbyfan]

Awesome Irish crowd, great atmosphere. By no means were Ireland disgraced in defeat. Munster V the AB's on November 19, it's on Setanta for the Irish fans. Thirty year anniversary of their defeat of the AB's in 78. The 12-0 victory occurred on Tuesday 31 October 1978 at Thomond Park.

In 1992, Australia who had just won the 1991 Rugby World Cup, visited Munster as part of a European Tour. Munster won 22-19 in a rough encounter in Cork. This was a cracker with fists flying all over the place.

[Thequeerone]

Got to admit to looking forward to it as well WRF reigning European Champions - Heinken Cup

[jargan83]

Rugby has reached the state where a club side could be stronger then a national side like in Football, at least in Europe
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[James]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Crusaders alone could beat all the national teams of Europe. Hell they'd probably have beaten the BI Lions had they played in 2005.

Why do the Irish always play better against NZ in NZ? They've had three closies in the last few years versus 2 drubbings in Ireland.

[Thequeerone]

James if I knew that I'd be a bookmaker !

Unbelievable performance by the Irish again - so close yet so far

[welshrugbyfan]

Rugby has reached the state where a club side could be stronger then a national side like in Football, at least in Europe
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Agree, Wales is recalling its players back to club duty before the Wallabies test as it falls out of the November tour window some how. Scary considering its on Nov 29.

[Burgs]

Normally you would call that Irish logic...