All Blacks take revenge on Ireland with 21-9 Dublin win

Otherwise, the All Blacks are at full strength, with Beauden Barrett at flyhalf in his first game since being named world player of the year.

But with Ireland playing out another pulsating game with the All Blacks, and with Italy defeating South Africa and Japan pushing Wales to the death, worldwide rugby was the big victor on Saturday.

In a pulsating game Ireland were restricted by a determined New Zealand defence and they paid the price physically when Sexton, Renshaw and Stander were all forced to leave the field with injuries, with Henshaw being taken off on a stretcher. “Seeing how the second test unfolds will sure be interesting”.

Ireland were standing tall but the All Blacks were charging. They will also be confident in their strength in depth, after their second string beat Canada last weekend, with centre Garry Ringrose looking impressive.

But Best said the label was no more than media chatter, and the furthest thing from his troops’ minds as Saturday approached.

New Zealand will even call on the spirit of Jonah Lomu, the quake at home and the hurt of defeat to put Ireland back in their place. What he is striving for then is for his players to find the correct balance between self-belief and self-absorption. Jerome Kaino is inured for the Ireland re-match, but the flanker lined up at lock in Chicago, and the back-line was nearly unrecognisable.

Next up, Robbie Henshaw was targeted for early treatment for the second game running. “When you have a big game like that, and it was a one score game, we need to feel that we have a chance of getting a call on that”.

“Iain Henderson, Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, guys who know how to contribute at the level and I thought that we dropped a couple of balls very close to the line, one at the back of a lineout on a planned move”.

“For every player it’s different, some really like to let it build up and I like to stay a little more clear”. “There are doubts”, Trimble said. Driven on by the memory of Anthony Foley, the popular former global who died weeks earlier, the Irish took advantage of a sloppy All Blacks performance to score five tries. [Thinking] This could unravel here. At half-time, everyone is thinking the same thing; “This is going the same way it did before”.

“It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes when you have to win they got the job done”. We can’t control the TMO giving a decision or the Assistant Referee giving a decision. Rory Best, Johnny [Sexton], Conor [Murray] were courageous.

The 27-year-old was deemed not quite ready for the Chicago encounter, and has missed out once again. “But it paid off in the end”.

“You certainly wouldn’t put us as favourites“.

“Look, we just went up to him and said to take a look at it”, said Best.

The average odds remain with Ireland placed at six to one for victory, with the All Blacks one to nine on to win.

New goals, though, are being set.

Jackson reduced the deficit to just five points as they approached the hour mark.

That is the plan. Devin Toner and friends may find themselves more concerned with securing their own ball rather than attacking the New Zealand throw.