Irish again left with little to show for effort

New Zealand 40 Ireland 8

Ireland found out yesterday what so many other sides have discovered over the years: fail to take your chances against New Zealand's All Blacks and pay the price.

Following their less than convincing 15-6 first Test victory last weekend, the All Blacks were expected to raise their game for the second of two such matches here yesterday. However it was Ireland who responded quickest to the challenge, dominating territorially in the first spell as the All Blacks suffered the juggling jitters that affected them last week.

What didn't help the tourists' cause was that Ronan O'Gara again had a poor day at the posts, missing three pottable shots at target.

Suddenly the All Blacks had been given time to settle into their game, and a slightly flattering half-time lead of 13-3 had been stretched to 40-8 by the final whistle, five tries – three of which were converted – and three conversions doing the trick, to a try and a drop goal. The defeat left Ireland without a win in 17 Tests against the men in black.

Following their unconvincing performance in Dunedin, coach John Mitchell restored Jonah Lomu to the Kiwis' starting line-up.

The big winger had few chances to run and couldn't prevent another error-strewn opening. Caleb Ralph had set the tone by knocking on O'Gara's first-minute kick under no pressure inside his own 22, and Ireland No 8 Anthony Foley twice pinched possession at the line-out.

However, Ireland, with Keith Wood earning his 50th cap, were unable to take advantage and two Andrew Mehrtens penalties, split by a Brian O'Driscoll drop goal, edged the home team in front as the quarter mark passed.

After missing his first kicking chance, O'Gara left a gap in the defence through which Aaron Mauger sped to set up the opening try. With O'Driscoll unable to lay a hand on his opposite number, Mauger drew full-back Girvan Dempsey before releasing Leon MacDonald for the opening try.

Ireland did have attacking chances but again ran into a brick wall, Richie McCaw turning in another outstanding defensive performance. Two more missed penalties piled more pressure on coach Eddie O'Sullivan to make a change, but the more reliable David Humphreys remained on the bench as the teams re-emerged after the interval.

The Irish offensive play was largely predictable and eight minutes after the interval Ralph made amends for his earlier blunder by stealing in at the corner. It was a simple move, sweeping across the field, with Lomu coming off his wing to feed MacDonald, who stepped inside to create the space for Ralph.

Mehrtens's conversion attempt hit an upright but with a 13-point advantage, the home side had the confidence to hunt for more.

Mehrtens banged over another penalty to stretch the Kiwis' lead on the hour but Ireland countered and Gary Longwell grabbed their first try of the series from close range. O'Gara missed the conversion and though Mehrtens was equally unsuccessful with a penalty shot at the other end, Byron Kelleher drove over barely 30 seconds after replacing Justin Marshall.

Quinlan's departure came soon afterwards and after more All Black pressure, Marty Holah burst through a line of tired defenders to grab his second international score before MacDonald wrapped up a handsome victory five minutes from time.

New Zealand 40 Ireland 8

Tries: MacDonald 2, Ralph, Try: Longwell
Kelleher, Holah Drop: O'Driscoll
Cons: Mehrtens 3
Pens: Mehrtens 3

Half-time: 13-3

New Zealand: L MacDonald (Canterbury); J Lomu (Wellington), M Robinson (Canterbury), C Ralph (Canterbury), A Mauger (Canterbury); A Mehrtens (Canterbury), J Marshall (Canterbury); D Hewett (Canterbury), M Hammett (Canterbury), G Somerville (Canterbury), C Jack (Canterbury), N Maxwell (Canterbury), R Thorne (Canterbury, capt), S Robertson, (Canterbury) R McCaw (Canterbury). Replacements: J McDonnell (Otago) for Hewett, 63, M Holah (Waikato) for McCaw, 67, B Kelleher (Otago) for Marshall, 63.

Ireland: G Dempsey (Leinster); G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster), J Bishop (London Irish), J Kelly (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); R Corrigan (Leinster), K Wood (Harlequins, capt), J Hayes (Munster), G Longwell (Ulster), M'Okelley (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster). Replacements: S Byrne (Leinster) for Wood, 78; P Wallace (Leinster) for Corrigan, 74; A Quinlan (Munster) for Foley, 67; D Humphreys (Ulster) for O'Gara, 65.