Hooker Dane Coles tackles Ireland's Bundee Aki. There were some nervy moments from Best in open play, one lost ball led to the All Blacks levelling at 3-3 but it was noticeable once Best and Toner left the pitch that the New Zealanders lineout jumpers began to make some hay out of Sean Cronin's throw ins.
Out came all the usual adjectives in recognition of Ireland's hard-fought and "heroic" victory against New Zealand, the world champions and perennial top-rated team on the planet. "I would be better off staying where I am, so it doesn't matter what team you coach the time commitments and pressures are pretty similar". They ooze individual talent, from the world's finest fly-half, Johnny Sexton, to the tighthead prop, Tadhg Furlong, who anchors the scrum when he is not rampaging in the broken field. "We're all going to be making announcements shortly", Hansen said.
'Ireland can now claim to be the best team in the world after producing a stunning performance that was courageous, creative and relentless.
'Ireland are the world's best, then.
Betfair spokesperson Katie Baylis said: "England gave the world champions a huge scare last weekend, but Ireland, as world number two pose an even bigger threat and there are plenty of Kiwis, of which I am one of them, who are more than a little nervous about tonight's clash". The 43-year-old modestly says he has no magic formula, but Schmidt is in no doubt of his qualities. "He is doing a super job and have really enjoyed the 2 1/2 years".
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has suggested that it's back to the drawing board for his side in the new year, having looked far from their best in 2018. Not only was it a pre-planned move but the purposeful Jacob Stockdale was still prepared to give it a go, despite having nearly presented Kieran Read with a free gift from a less successful chip a few minutes earlier. The All Black cover was wrong-footed as Schmidt had hoped and the prolific Ulster wing's precise chip and impressive pace completed the heist.
"You've got to have structure and you've got to have balance and we've got guys reacting to situations and sometimes that's just going out of your structure and just playing what's in front of you and I think we're still trying to find that balance". "He is a fantastic player".
