International
All Blacks surge to impressive win in Cardiff
All Blacks forward power and ruthlessness extinguised Welsh hopes as the pack laid the foundation for a memorable 55-23 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Although they felt they had a chance after the inconsistency of All Blacks’ results in 2022, Wales joined their 32 preceding sides since their last win in 1953 in failing in their task. It was the 10th Test in succession that the All Blacks had scored more than 33 points against Wales
This was a Test where the All Blacks dominated up front, controlled the loose exchanges at the vital moments, tackled with effect, and demonstrated the confidence seen in their Eden Park Test against Australia.
Man of the match No8 Ardie Savea was consistently lively with support from flankers Dalton Papali’i, who shone in the open, and Shannon Frizell in taking the ball up. Lock and captain Sam Whitelock controlled the lineout and was prominent in the pick-and-go plays the side unleashed with effect.
Great support from props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax both in the handling play and in their scrummaging demonstrated how much they have developed this year.
Halfback Aaron Smith, in his record-breaking effort as the most capped All Blacks back, scored two tries. The first was a brilliant solo effort while first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga controlled the flow of the game, even when Wales were able to apply some pressure, while his cover tackle on New Zealander Gareth Anscombe as he seemed try bound, was stunning.
New Zealand showed their intent from the outset, achieving a level of continuity rarely seen this season and achieved a 22-13 lead by halftime.
While Wales opened the second half scoring with an Anscombe penalty goal, but the All Blacks responded immediately courtesy of Smith who, playing under penalty advantage, made the most of an All Blacks lineout win, to pick his way past the early cover, and then switch back on the break to run in a try to mark his record-breaking appearance as the most capped All Blacks halfback.
Mo’unga then wasn’t able to control a lob kick to the All Blacks goalmouth by Welsh halfback Tomos Williams. He contested the catch with first five-eighths Rhys Priestland and when the ball dropped free, Wales flanker Justin Tipuric managed to secure the ball to score.
Then, yet again, from the restart plays, Wales conceded a penalty, out from the posts. That allowed Savea to throw one of his outrageous dummies before slipping the ball to Smith who scored his second.
Into the final quarter, rejuvenated by their substitutes, the All Blacks returned to their forwards for some determined driving and when the space was opened, it was Savea who dived over for deserved reward. He was followed five minutes from the end by Jordie Barrett who was fed into a wide gap by brother Beauden, and then after a last-minute penalty conceded by Wales, the lineout drive produced the half-century when replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored a trademark try.
Making their best start of the season, the All Blacks led 17-0 after the first quarter. Early pressure was applied through Smith, who twice caught his opposite number Tomos Williams at scrums, and Savea whose two early ruck turnovers provided great momentum.
Continuing with the double effect hooker Codie Taylor scored their first two tries in the 10th and 18th minutes.
The first coming after Mo’unga ran from Savea’s turnover. When the ball was moved Papali’i broke through the Welsh backline. The pack took over with several pick-and-goes in the 22m area before Taylor scored.
Then, after significant driving play again inspired by strong running from Savea, and his tap penalty, the ball was taken to the line and Taylor completed the play.
A penalty conceded by the All Blacks in their 22 in the 24th minute saw Wales use their lineout and it was left-wing on debut Rio Dyer who positioned himself outside centre George North who had drawn the defence to open a gap for Dyer to score.
Halfback Nick Tompkins broke deep into the All Blacks 22 and when New Zealand conceded a penalty, Anscombe pulled three points back.
That was a prelude for more application of forward power from the All Blacks who again built on momentum from Savea’s ability to put his leg drive to use. Under penalty advantage close to the line Mo’unga lobbed a ball to the right wing where second five-eighths Jordie Barrett used his height advantage to secure the ball area of Dyer to score.
Traditionally, the final quarter has seen the All Blacks’ fitness tell, and it proved the case again for a win that will rank high in the satisfaction stakes.
Wales 23 (Rio Dyer, Justin Tipuric tries; Gareth Anscombe 2 con, 3 pen) New Zealand 55 (Codie Taylor 2, Jordie Barrett 2, Aaron Smith 2, Ardie Savea, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Richie Mo’unga 4 con, pen; Beauden Barrett 2 con). HT: 22-13
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
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