New Zealand captain Scott Barrett accused Joe McCarthy of taking an “off the road” shot on Damien McKenzie throughout Friday’s win over Eire.
Tensions threatened to boil over within the thirteenth minute when a scuffle broke out between Barrett and his rival McCarthy, who Barrett believed was intentionally focusing on All Blacks flyback Damian McKenzie.
McKenzie shook off early consideration, scoring 18 factors as New Zealand beat Eire 23-13 on the Aviva Stadium, ending Eire’s 19-game successful streak.
“I would not usually take subject with that, however I feel I noticed one thing that was beneath the road for me,” mentioned Barrett, whose workforce received 24-22 at Twickenham final weekend. Beat England and knock Eire off the highest of the desk.
“I suppose it’s important to make some extent, ‘Your goal tonight wasn’t our 10 males.’ It seemed like Damian was down on the bottom and Joe cleaned him up.”
Will Jordan’s 69th-minute strike sealed Dublin’s first win since 2016
“From my perspective, it appears to be like prefer it’s round his head. To somebody on the bottom, it appears to be like a little bit like a shoulder.”
Eire went into the autumn opener as favorites however suffered their first residence defeat since France received at an empty Aviva Stadium throughout the 2021 Six Nations.
Will Jordan’s thirty seventh attempt in 39 Exams gave the All Blacks deserved success and McKenzie additionally transformed six penalties.
Farrell: Eire gamers ‘devastated’ after uncommon residence defeat
A annoyed James Lowe after the ultimate whistle
Eire, who have been overwhelmed by New Zealand in final yr’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, conceded 13 penalties throughout the break and failed to attain 13 factors after Josh van der Flier’s early aim. -9 lead.
Eire head coach Andy Farrell mentioned: “[I’m] Upset. It is simply summed up by the ambiance within the locker room: actually somber.
“The lads are annoyed, we’re all annoyed collectively. I feel we put together effectively, practice effectively and I feel we’re excited for the sport, we actually are.
“We weren’t capable of take the sport down the sphere. Clearly, the opponent has a giant say in that, however I believed we made too many errors and nearly overpowered ourselves at instances.
“Accuracy shouldn’t be what it’s essential to win a giant Take a look at match like this.”
Josh van der Flier’s attempt minutes after the restart put Eire again in entrance however they failed to attain once more
Van der Flier grabbed a penalty within the forty third minute as Jordie Barrett was despatched off for a excessive deal with on Garry Ringrose simply earlier than half-time. The sport began with an opportunity and Eire took the lead.
Nonetheless, repeated infractions took the power out of the gang and decisively swung the match in New Zealand’s favour.
Eire suffered defeat on residence soil for less than the second time within the Farrell period.
“It is a enjoyable outdated feeling as a result of we do not get loads of that within the locker room,” Farrell mentioned.
“That is life, congratulations to New Zealand. We’ve no excuses. Lengthy story brief, the opposition deserved to win. I truly thought the sport was fitful and a bit scrappy.
“There have been loads of errors due to the climate. It was a gradual sufficient sport at instances and we wanted to maintain our power, however we did not do this effectively sufficient.”
Eire Autumn Nations Sequence Schedule
November 8: Ireland 13-23 New Zealand
November fifteenth: Eire vs Argentina (8.10pm)
November 23: Eire vs Fiji (3.10pm)
November 30: Eire vs Australia (3.10pm)
