Ireland's impressive 29-20 victory over the All Blacks on Saturday has forced plenty of self-reflection in New Zealand.
In the New Zealand Herald, Gregor Paul writes that there is genuine worry that the All Blacks have fallen behind other teams in terms of their physicality, and that they "no longer have the ante to play at the same table as the likes of Ireland, England and South Africa".
"But the fact they were so inferior in so many ways, said more about where they really sit in the world pecking order. Losing to Ireland is now becoming habitual and that may be because the All Blacks can't match them for sheer physical impact and muscularity," says Paul.
"For a whole century the Irish never really had the full respect of the All Blacks, but the way this test went and the five before, maybe now it is New Zealand who have become the junior partner in this relationship."
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In his match report, Liam Napier says Ireland "thoroughly deserved their victory", and adds: "Ireland played much more rugby than previous in years and ultimately gained the rewards for doing so".
13 November 2021; James Lowe of Ireland dives over to score his side's first try despite the tackle of Jordie Barrett of New Zealand during the Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Ireland's victory has Chris Rattue questioning the haste with which Ian Foster was reappointed as All Blacks head coach. He also thinks that Ireland were a "a 25-point better team" than the All Blacks.
"The All Blacks were comprehensively out-coached in Dublin, with Ireland's command of the ball masterful as the All Blacks fluffed about like it was Super Rugby," writes Rattue.
"Ireland's performance was every bit as good as England's demolition job on the All Blacks at the last World Cup, and even more concerning.
"England lay in wait for their semifinal strike on the highest rugby stage. Ireland are still building into their new season."
For Stuff.co.nz, Richard Knowler writes that Ireland's victory was even better than that of 2018.
"Three years ago, when the Irish beat the All Blacks for the first time on home soil, they also delivered heavy blows to the tourists' psyche by tackling themselves to a standstill and completely shutting down the slightest glimmer of light whenever it shone through the links in their defensive chain," he says.
"This performance was better than their effort in 2018; the Irish wanted to attack, attack, attack by shifting the ball at speed from set phases, delivering quick passes in contact and it was no wonder that with 15 minutes still remaining that the All Blacks had already made more than 210 tackles."
Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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