There seems to be a sense of relief in New Zealand following the All Blacks' 42-19 victory over Ireland on Saturday. Questions had been hanging over the team since November when they lost consecutive tests to Ireland and France. The eight months since had been filled with a fear the All Blacks could be in a spiralling decline.
"What the performance alluded to was that the world last year looked a lot different to the world now," Gregor Paul writes for the New Zealand Herald about Saturday's win.
"It always does in November, but last year saw things take an exaggerated skew with the All Blacks forced into a bio-bubble for 15 weeks.
"In those final weeks of their long and arduous tour, they met a fresh and motivated Irish team who were playing in front of a passionate home crowd for the first time in two years.
"The balance was tipped in Ireland's favour and they were good enough to take advantage and make it count – seemingly exposing endless flaws in an All Blacks team who everyone said were frail, unimaginative and pedestrian."
In a second article, Paul adds:
"Ireland weren't so far behind the All Blacks in the core facets of winning the ball and the collisions. But they were light years behind in being able to sniff and exploit even a half-chance and the ability of the All Blacks to pounce on counter-attack and sense where an opponent is weak remains the gift that they alone possess."
2 July 2022; New Zealand players celebrate after Pita Gus Sowakula, obscured scores his side's sixth try during the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
There are "early signs" of an All Blacks "attacking evolution" according to Liam Napier in the New Zealand Herald, as they used Aaron Smith to shift the point of attack beyond the first and second receivers at the ruck.
"The three-test series game of chess is such that Ireland will now be second-guessing where to defend the All Blacks ball carriers," he says.
"Will they stick with the three-wide ploy for the second test in Dunedin, or look to add other variations that further alter the point of attack?"
For Stuff.co.nz, Robert van Royen says the All Blacks should be worried about the versatile forward Scott Barrett being cited for a clean out tackle on Peter O'Mahony.
"Head coach Foster’s biggest concern in the wash-up should be the prospect of receiving news Barrett is cited for his clean out on opposite Peter O’Mahony in the 74th minute," writes van Royen.
"Barrett certainly appeared to make contact with Mahony’s head as the All Blacks were forced into one of many goal line stands on the night."
2 July 2022; Keith Earls of Ireland celebrates with teammates Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan after scoring his side's first try during the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Mark Hinton, also writing for Stuff.co.nz, felt the All Blacks turned the physicality tables on Ireland.
"Remember, just seven or so months ago, when Ireland had bested the All Blacks in Dublin for their third victory in the last five, they had not just won the physical battle, but owned it," he says.
"As a result the New Zealanders barely fired a shot on an afternoon spent almost entirely on the back foot.
"Not this time. It took them a while, but the All Blacks forwards came to play in this campaign opener, and in the process restored an equilibrium many worried had deserted this team as they dropped back-to-back tests in the north last November."
Beyond Ireland's bright start, and the input of Johnny Sexton and Jamison Gibson-Park, 1news.co.nz's Patrick McKendry thought "there wasn’t much else in terms of attacking skill or inspiration" for Ireland.
"The Irish too often spoiled the ball by their utter commitment and occasional bending of the laws, although the men in green had two tries ruled out in the second half due to knock-ons and they certainly got no rub of the green when Sowakula scored his try in the final 10 minutes off the back of a scrum; referee Karl Dickson playing a perfect blocking role against Peter O’Mahony," he says.
See Also: Ireland Player Ratings - Farrell's Men Mauled At Eden Park
