‘No excuses’, says Andy Farrell after All Blacks end Irish home win streak
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Ireland's Josh van der Flier clashing with New Zealand players during their 23-13 loss on Nov 8.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUBLIN – Andy Farrell said there were “no excuses” and the best team won, after New Zealand beat Six Nations champions Ireland 23-13 on Nov 8 to end their 19-match winning streak at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish looked rusty in a match that never threatened to reach the heights of their epic 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash which the All Blacks won 28-24.
New Zealand had Ireland’s measure on a night when the drizzle dampened fans’ spirits even before the match.
Damian McKenzie’s 18 points and Will Jordan’s try sent the Irish fans away even glummer – they had not experienced the home losing feeling since France beat them in the Six Nations in 2021.
Compounding a miserable night for Ireland, it was their worst home defeat since England beat them 32-20 in 2019.
Farrell, who leaves temporarily after the November Tests to assume his duties as British and Irish Lions coach for the 2025 tour of Australia, refused to blame referee Nic Berry for the costly penalties Ireland conceded.
“We need to get our own house in order first, there’s no excuses for us. Rustiness or game time, it is what it is. Long story short they deserved to win,” he said.
The Irish may have cursed their luck that their first Test after a few months’ hiatus following the 1-1 drawn summer series with South Africa was against the All Blacks.
New Zealand, meanwhile, came into the game on the back of a 22-20 win over England last weekend.
“I am disappointed. It’s easily summed up with the mood in the dressing room. It is sombre and that is a rarity for us. The lads are gutted. We’re all gutted. We didn’t manage to put our game out on the field,” added Farrell.
“It’s not right to try and be desperate, chase your tail and compound an error with another error, points come on the back of that. We did that a number of times. We need to fix up our mentality as far as that’s concerned.”
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson was delighted to beat the side ranked No. 1 in the world. The third-ranked All Blacks put the Irish away in the final 20 minutes after trailing briefly in the second half.
“I am really pleased, in fact stoked to get a result like that,” he said, praising his players.
“They showed courage and cared for each other out there. I’m pleased because we showed so much courage and care on both sides of the ball and it was just a classic Test match.”
The exciting but inconsistent McKenzie was named Man of the Match. The playmaker started only because the more predictable and solid Beauden Barrett failed a head injury sssessment during the England game.
“D-Mac was as mercurial as normal,” added Robertson with a grin.
“He trusted his instinct, it was a hell of a night for him. Great off the boot and just really pleased.” AFP, REUTERS
