After the anticipation, we have the antic.
Ireland/New Zealand has seen a kind of frenzied storm settle over the Aviva Stadium: four players have left through injury in the opening 22 minutes.
Referee Jaco Peyper has found himself at the heart of much of the controversy, and the awarding of the second New Zealand try has been his most questionable call.
Beauden Barrett found a gap to canter home for what looked a certain try for the ABs, only for Johnny Sexton to appear to hold him up and rip the ball away. There was enough doubt for Peyper to send the decision upstairs, with the TMO bizarrely making the call before seeing all of the available angles.
After the TMO said he clearly saw a grounding, he later looked at an angle which pretty much totally contradicted his earlier opinion.
Peyper didn't seem entirely delighted to give it, to his credit, but the decision was made nonetheless. Rory Best was utterly bemused, as heard on the ref's mic.
Have a look:
Controversial second try for New Zealand as the referee says he saw the ball grounded, but........... https://t.co/nZLbxBjTQ0
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) November 19, 2016
