All Blacks Triumph Over Ireland's Tough Tactics to End 19-Game Streak

All Blacks control in the face of Irish persistence and niggle at the breakdown ended the home team's run of 19 consecutive victories at Aviva Stadium with a deserved 23-13 win.

While the teams scored one try apiece, the Irish lack of discipline, especially in their half, they conceded 13 penalties to five, allowed first five-eighths and man of the match, Damian McKenzie, to land six penalty goals to punish them in a display that was one of the most controlled Tests of his career.

In the face of those frustrating Irish tactics at the breakdown, where they attempted to slow down their running game, the All Blacks never lost their poise and looked the far more accomplished side under that pressure.

They capitalised on a poor Irish lineout to secure the ball in critical situations while the vaunted Ireland defence still slipped 30 tackles in making much of the play.

Problems with their final quarter were eliminated, with the winning advantage coming in the 68th minute when fullback Will Jordan crossed for his 37th Test try in his 39th appearance.

Ireland claimed a solitary momentum boost when scoring two minutes into the second half when the All Blacks were reduced to 14, having lost second five-eighths Beauden Barrett to the sin-bin in the last minute of the first half. Flanker Josh van der Flier scored after Ireland built from a penalty kick to the corner and a five-metre scrum.

But that momentum slipped away within minutes as McKenzie landed three of his penalty goals to regain an 18-13 lead, and with the infusion of fresh players, there was solidity and experience in the scrum and lineouts that took Ireland out of the contest.

In their bid to get back in the game, the Irish made two knock-ons, allowing the All Blacks to pounce and get their running game going and away from the close-quarter infringements that stymied their chances to develop.

Replacement five-eighths Ciaran Frawley knocked a ball on and then chose a poor kick option. Jordie Barrett took the kick, and momentum was built with flanker Wallace Sititi ever-present. First, it was on the right flank, where wing Mark Tele'a kept the ball alive. When it came left, McKenzie threw a long pass to Sititi, who found hooker Asafo Aumua, and he gave fullback Will Jordan a clear run in for the try.

The game started out as a traditional chess match-type approach, compounded by drizzle that saw handling mistakes on both sides. But as the game advanced, the first-half momentum was with the All Blacks.

They enjoyed 63 (58 at full-time) per cent possession. They also created two scoring opportunities, the first when McKenzie found space with a possible chance for wing Mark Tele'a, but McKenzie didn't make the transfer, and Ireland cleared. Then later, after a penalty kick to the corner, a not-straight lineout throw was ruled against Aumua.

Throughout, the All Blacks ran the ball and made 71 carries to 50 by Ireland, with the home team having to make 153 tackles compared to 100 by the All Blacks, who missed only 14 tackles to 30.

Ireland pressured halfback Cortez Ratima, securing a charge down on one occasion and disrupting his passing from the base on others. But it was at risk, and several times, Ireland was penalised for not rolling away in tackle situations, the penalty count against them being 5-3 at the turn.

However, in the last act of the first half, Ireland pulled within three points when first five-eighths Jack Crowley landed his second penalty goal after All Blacks second five-eighths Jordie Barrett was sin-binned for foul play, shoulder contact to head.

That was consequential two minutes into the second half, after an obstruction was ruled in the fielding of the kick-off and while Ireland lost the goal line lineout, they pinned flanker Sam Cane in-goal, and from the five-metre scrum, they built pressure before flanker Josh van der Flier scored.

Scorers: Ireland 13 (Josh van der Flier tries; Jack Crowley con, 2 pen) New Zealand 23 (Will Jordan tries; Damian McKenzie 6 pen). HT: 6-9