Ireland is writing a page of rugby history Beat the All Blacks 23-12 in Dunedin New Zealand’s first win in the second Test of the series. After a 111-year wait, Ireland beat the All Blacks for the first time in Chicago in 2016 (40-29) and then repeated at home twice in 2018 (16-9) and 2021 (29-20). 4th win in last 7 comparisons. The series concludes next Saturday in Wellington. The series between Australia and England was also back to a draw, with the world vice champions avenging Perth’s loss with a 25-17 win in Brisbane.

History

—

The All Blacks’ worst enemy today was the All Blacks: two yellow cards and a red in the space of a quarter of an hour in the first half, leaving the field victorious was never going to be possible. The New Zealanders found themselves in for a goal from prop Andrew Porter two minutes from time, breaking Tadhg Bain and Jonathan Sexton’s short pass after a good break from the second row. . Just before the New Zealand breakdown of discipline: the first yellow card for winger Lester Fainganuku at 17 (in his second cap since his debut last week), who shouldered Mack Hanson late on, and the second at 24. For Offa Tungafasi who helps Gary Ringrose tackle him without a single ball. Tungafasi was replaced by Angus Thao, who head-butted Ringross directly in a botched tackle in the 31st minute: an inevitable red card. As if that wasn’t enough, Ardi Zavia, who came out to temporarily allow Aidan Rose to take over for the scrum, will not be able to return to the field after his team-mate was sent off. A nightmare for coach Ian Foster. The good thing is that a lot of inaccuracy is missing important opportunities for the Irish people. With time running out, they first collect James Ryan’s yellow card after a series of team infringements, then a lucky goal from Beauden Barrett, who supports the forwards under the posts and sees the ball drop to his feet. To get past Porter and kick him. Jordie Barrett’s conversion sends the teams to the break with the New Zealanders incredibly at -3. But at the start of the second half, Porter broke again, outrunning a number of black jerseys and getting under the posts after a long and exhausting Irish possession. Sexton converted, scoring two between 55′ and 66′ to seal the win. So no damage to Will Jordan’s final goal on the flag, and coach Andy Farrell’s joy from the staff cabin to finally free himself: history had been made.

revenge

—

In Brisbane, England start with the most threatening intentions, must recover the comeback experienced a week ago, and after 5 minutes is already on target: a touch at 5 meters is launched into the safe hands of Maro Itoje, who triggers the maul and then concedes. Billy Vunipola made his way from below and broke through. Owen Farrell transforms and then puts in 4 places (11′, 15′, 23′ and 33′). The Wallabies collected yellow from ‘Isaiah Perez (who took over from the injured Jordan Petaya on 4’) for voluntary forward 22. On 36, the hosts finally manage to get into the English 22 and Noah Lolesio’s conversion allows prop Taniela Tupou to break over the line. Early on in the recovery of numerical superiority created by Tupou, the Australians found space on the beach and Samu Kerevic could stroll peacefully into goal with Lolesio converting. Australia were the masters of the field and another attack in the 53rd minute was stopped by Marcus Smith’s volley forward at the limit of 22: yellow card for the English opener, Lolesio for -5. On 67, a brilliant idea from Jack Nowell kicks off with a Farrell cross, setting the stage for a deep English attack, halted haphazardly: the football is under the posts, bringing the English back to +8. Australia’s remaining hopes of a comeback were lost before and after two mistakes by Perez: first throwing the extreme player who touches the oval directly into a difficult possession, instead of whistling a free-kick and going straight for it. At 10 meters, if he gets her to push back into the field with a very short allegory. At 75 ‘Farrell missed the first kick of the evening, but of no consequence and victory was now secure: the series would be decided in Sydney next Saturday.

fear

—

Finally, a big scare for France, but thanks to Baptiste Caulaud’s goal a few minutes from the end, Japan overcame 20-15 in Tokyo to take the series 2-0. Coach Fabian Galthier’s Blues also took the lead through a goal by winger Matisse Lebel, who found Virimi Wakatawa’s assist after Maxime Luku’s conversion. But Japan responded with a brace from Ryohei Yamanaka: the first from Gerhard van den Heever’s 30m break down the left, the second triggered by Michael Leach’s inside pass. Seung Sin Lee made it to the second to make it a set, and Japan led 15-7 at halftime. Apart from the two set up by Lukou (45′) and Mathieu Jalibert (60′), the French could not create anything else, at least until the 71′, when scrum-half Baptiste Cauload surprised the Japanese defense with a quick restart from behind. A scrum between the 10m line and the 22m line finds a break down the middle to the goalposts. Japan finally hit the counter-overtake target when Tevita Tatufu was able to break through after some deep touch action, losing control of the oval as the TMO showed at the last minute.