TOPS
A historic first for the XV of Clover
Six years after having managed to beat the All-Blacks for the first time in Chicago (40-29), Ireland offered themselves the first victory in their history on New Zealand soil after an epic duel that she dominated in the large widths (12-23).
The pet peeve of the triple world champions in recent years, Andy Farrell's men managed to dominate them for the fourth time thanks to a remarkable performance from their rear leaders Henshaw and Sexton but also forwards O'Mahony, Beirne and Furlong.
Swept away in Auckland last Saturday (19-42), the XV of Clover can therefore dream of winning the tour in the third and final round next Saturday in Wellington.
An extremely rare performance that no nation in the northern hemisphere has managed to achieve since the XV of France, in 1994.
Sexton wears his
After his concussion during the first test match, Jonathan Sexton was legitimately uncertain and his tenure did not fail to make people talk.
In 80 minutes, the Irish captain recalled how essential he was and how much he knew how to play behind him.
Surgical against the poles (5/5, 13 points), the opener also knew how to be precise in the game at the foot of occupation and extremely important in his role as leader.
Two days before his 37th birthday, Jonathan Sexton has also passed the 1,000 point mark in the Irish jersey and is approaching Ronan O'Gara's record (1,083 points).
In power, Porter sees double
Strongman of the Irish pack, ultra-dominant over the whole meeting, the pillar Andrew Porter managed to score a double in force (3rd, 48th), at the conclusion of long sequences of pick-and-go.
Two historical essays that he is not about to forget.
FLOPS
Indiscipline, the scourge of New Zealand
A nightmarish first act.
Unrecognizable in the first period, the All Blacks received no less than three cards in the space of 15 minutes.
Leicester Fainga'anuku first got carried away trying to counter a game at the foot of Mack Hansen, whom he then illegally charged (16th).
Nine minutes later, Ofa Tu'ungafasi also received a yellow cracker after a ballless tackle on Garry Ringrose (25th).
But the excesses of commitment of the All Blacks do not stop there.
At the end of the first period, the pillar Angus Ta'avao sees red after a very dangerous tackle and directly at the head of the same Ringrose.
Shocked, the Irish center will not recover and is replaced by Bundee Aki.
In total, four cards were distributed since among the Irish, James Ryan took a yellow in the 39th for unplay.
The trend did not reverse when they returned from the locker room since the number of penalties whistled against them rose to 18. An abnormal flaw for Ian Foster's men, who will have to show a completely different face next Saturday, will they want to hope to win the tour.
Sam Cane, Castaway Captain
The third line of the All Blacks crossed the match like a shadow.
Facing the XV of Clover, Sam Cane never managed to remobilize his troops when the black boat pitched in the first half hour, with multiple faults and three cards received by his partners.
Penalized three times, the New Zealand captain is the symbol of New Zealand's defeat and risks being under fire from critics throughout next week.
A questioned captaincy?