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New Zealand 42
Ireland 10
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All Blacks v Ireland try scoring highlights from first Test in 2012
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All Blacks stout - Irish missed
By Gregor Paul
The scoreline was emphatic, the performance not quite so certain but the overall picture crystal-clear - the All Blacks have put the World Cup behind them and are on their way to conquering new summits.
If Ireland were ever a chance they didn't let on. They never got stuck into their assigned role of brave loser - a brief resistance in the opening 20 minutes was all they put down before they were swallowed whole.
There was a resigned quality to their work - almost as if they accepted barely a quarter of the way in that the All Blacks weren't really in a mood to be nervous, overwhelmed hosts. Generosity wasn't on show from the All Blacks: they left few areas for Ireland to exploit.
The lineout, so often a source of woe, was French-train efficient. The scrum battle belonged to the All Blacks, even if they didn't get the dominance they thought they might until later in the piece, and the collisions weren't particularly frantic, with both sides protecting their possession well enough.
The big gulf was in the ability to exploit mistakes. Ireland, used to the more pedestrian world of Northern Hemisphere rugby, got a sharp reminder that down here dropped ball can be a serious crime.
Anything loose and the All Blacks pounced - they were razor-sharp at shifting the ball into space from broken play. Innate rugby skills came to the fore and that alertness, willingness to go hard when half an opportunity presents is the kernel that will grow throughout the season.
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Zac Guildford of the All Blacks is tackled by Jonathan Sexton of Ireland during
the International Test Match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland at
Eden Park on June 9, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand.
(
June 8, 2012 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Kieran Read of the All Blacks makes a break
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Easy does it for All Blacks
All Blacks wing Julian Savea scored a hat-trick on debut to help the world champions to a comprehensive 42-10 win over Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The talented speedster crossed twice in the first half and again after the break to cap a memorable night in his first Test outing for New Zealand, as the home side opened their 2012 account with a bang.
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The win also saw the All Blacks extend their winning run at Eden Park to 28 Tests, dating back to 1994.
A general view of Eden Park during the International Test Match between the New
Zealand All Blacks and Ireland at Eden Park on June 9, 2012 in Auckland, New
Zealand.
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The win also saw the All Blacks extend their winning run at Eden Park to 28 Tests, dating back to 1994.
(
June 8, 2012 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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The visitors were outscored five tries to one, and based on this quality performance from the hosts, it looks like Ireland will have to wait a little longer for that elusive victory over the men in black.
Whilst the scoreline resembles one-way traffic, it took a while for New Zealand to click into a gear as the Irish threatened to give the home side a run for their money early on - Rob Kearney in particular impressing with ball in hand.
Richie McCaw charges forward
(
June 8, 2012 - Source: Hannah Johnston/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
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Israel Dagg of the All Blacks loses the ball
Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac
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Man of the match: For Ireland, Sean O'Brien and Rory Best were the pick of the forwards while Rob Kearney was a pillar of strength at the back. New Zealand number eight Kieran Read proved why he's rated the best in his position, while Carter was his influential self at 10 - finishing with a match haul of 17 points. Scrum-half Aaron Smith produced an outstanding debut with his rapid service keeping the backline moving, but wing Julian Savea gets our vote. A constant threat out wide, the 21-year-old made history by becoming the first All Black to get a hat-trick against Ireland in only his first Test appearance.
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Moment of the match: Even though there were six tries scored in all, we've opted for Savea's bone-crunching hit on Kearney that proved New Zealand's hat-trick hero is no slouch on defence either.
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Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks offloads during the International Test
Match
(
June 8, 2012 - Source: Hannah Johnston/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
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The action moves on to Christchurch next week with the men in green determined to put this loss behind them and level the series, ahead of the third and final encounter in Hamilton.
(
June 8, 2012 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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