With 80 minutes on the clock, Ireland were set for a first ever victory over the All Blacks, but the world champions showed why they are such a formidable side with a dramatic win to end 2013 unbeaten.
It was a cruel, cruel finish for Ireland who can count themselves so unlucky not to write themselves into the history books. From the first whistle to the very last, every player in green showed fire in the belly and ice in the veins as Ireland lost out by two points.
Right from the outset Joe Schmidt and his men looked up for the titanic task in front of them and put in one of the
finest first half performances we have ever witnessed from an Irish side.
The All Blacks were always likely to come out fired up for the second and while Irish discipline was impeccable in the opening 40, they conceded two in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but thankfully Cruden missed one and the Irish intensity was clearly having the desired effect on the opposition.
Increased All Blacks pressure saw substitute Ben Franks have an immediate effect as he scored only his second international try and the deficit was down to five points with 15 minutes remaining.
A missed penalty from Johnny Sexton with six minutes to go was to prove costly as right at the death as the New Zealanders showed their true class.
It was an outstanding collective performance, one of the best we have ever seen from Ireland given the class of opposition, and it bodes well for the future.
