Carter class seals first win

Ace first five-eighths Dan Carter was given only one chance but his break 16 minutes from fulltime made Ireland suffer as he set up the match-winning try for second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu in the 21-11 victory in miserable conditions at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Carter's control was vital throughout the game and he saw off the prospective challenge of his Irish rival Ronan O'Gara with ease. His kicking was crucial, and while the conditions were not conducive to pinpoint accuracy he still made life difficult for the Irish defences.

When he did sniff his chance he broke 20 metres in a classic break, set up the ruck with flanker Rodney So'oialo feeding replacement prop John Schwalger.

He somehow smuggled the ball to Nonu and he slid over for the try, which Carter converted to give New Zealand a 21-11 lead.

Ireland must have felt it was in with a chance as it reached the all-important final quarter level-pegging, its area where it had conceded prospective winning chances in the past.

But Carter punished some undisciplined play by Irish prop Marcus Horan who was penalised for going into a ruck with a forearm.

Conditions were dreadful after an anticipated southerly change hit the ground about 45 minutes before kick-off leaving rain falling throughout the first half. Ireland had the advantage of the wind.

It became a night for the high kick and it was Ireland that looked least comfortable making more knock-ons.

It was a night to make old All Blacks proud as the commitment of the home pack was measured with a superb united approach with flanker Richie McCaw leading the way, at the breakdown, in defence and with the ball in hand.

Prop Neemia Tialata was also prominent in some driving play while locks Brad Thorn and Ali Williams thrived in the tight quarter play.

Fifteen minutes into the first half, a fine recovery of lineout ball after Williams failed to control the ball paid immediate dividends.

McCaw moved out to five-eighths and took the turned over ball from halfback Andrew Ellis.

Carter was standing in midfield to feed centre Conrad Smith who stepped into space and then raced through to set up left wing Sitiveni Sivivatu within striking distance of the line and he made no mistake to dive in at the corner.

O'Gara had opened the scoring after eight minutes with a penalty goal for a ruck handling infringement.

Three minutes after the All Blacks try, the home team paid the price for more indifference under the restart kick, a problem for most New Zealand teams during the Rebel Sport Super 14.

Ireland gathered the ball and after a sequence of drives and free-kicks the ball emerged for O'Gara to feed second five-eighths Paddy Wallace a try wide out. Ireland went to an 8-5 lead.

Around 10 minutes out from halftime, Ireland failed to take its own throw in the 22m area and blindside flanker Rodney So'oialo drove ahead. All the forwards chimed in with some classical All Blacks driving resulting in a five-metre scrum. From the resulting play Carter landed a penalty goal from in front of the posts to level the score.

Ireland arrived with high hopes that this would be its chance to beat the All Blacks, but in comparison to previous teams it was an ineffectual challenge and the losing streak has been extended to 21 Tests.

New Zealand 21
Tries: Sivivatu, Nonu
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter 3

Ireland 11
Tries: Wallace
Pen: O'Gara 2

HT: 8-8