Rugby Union

Ireland have always been on the edge of legality in terms of holding on too long after a tackle and interfering at the breakdown. They have been doing it for years but referees have only just started pinging them for it. Berry was all over it last night and it prevented them gaining any momentum.

Fulltime thoughts:

• Sam Cane getting driven back into the in-goal came after he got a knee down in field and so was tackled, it could have been a penalty for all 3 tacklers not releasing. Somewhat surprised the scrum move didn't just go to a Bundee Aki charge with Jordie Barrett off and they instead worked several phases to the right to find the space.
• All Blacks taking a quick throw instead of chewing up time on the card was stupid, but fortunately got a penalty off a dodgy cleanout. Brainless rugby. Taking the penalty kick after the the holding-on call moments later was much more sensible, and chewed up a bunch of time plus a brilliant kick with all sorts of trouble on the tee put the score back to 1.
• Stop/Start rugby but doesn't seem to be impacting the ABs as much as it has in previous seasons - maybe they've adapted to it rather than hoping other teams won't be able to just get away with it. If anything they're using the stop as much themselves. That and the constant mistakes have made for a mostly very boring game - albeit it tense due to the scoreline.
• Not sure I agree with taking the penalty kick after the scrum penalty against the Irish tighthead. The ABs have struggled to get into the Irish 22m and the scores are only behind by 1 going for a line out and possible try might have helped to swing momentum more. Albeit, McKenzie is kicking really well so taking the 3 still put the ABs ahead, but give Ireland territory back from the restart.
• Ireland's handling is starting to be a bit of a liability for them, they've had less than parity in possession so these second half drops are hurting them more than it did the ABs in the first half with 2/3 possession.
• If the ground was cutting up and the players were looking a lot muddier I reckon everybody would be more understanding of the fairly conservative rugby being played - or rather the lack of rugby being played.
• Irish crowd behaving like a Kiwi crowd, mostly quiet and just cheering when something's happened. Not really acting as the 16th man that you'd hope for at a home test!
• Jordie Barrett's kick-off catches have been superb and given the ABs a comfortable platform to exit from. And the Irish receipt of the ABs clearance has been woeful in comparison - given up both territory and possession and piling more pressure on themselves. The second half has been well controlled by the ABs, but to a huge part has been helped by Ireland's lack of control. But for all that 10 points up, 9 minutes to go and Ireland are definitely not out of this.
• Will Jordan's kicking game is both ill advised and it sucks. He is a long way off being the quality of fullback in test matches that he is allowed to be at Super Rugby.
• Nic Berry may well be the form referee in the world right now; comms, calmness, decision making throughout have been excellent.
• 3 from 3 so far so a guaranteed 3/5 makes this a very successful tour and and overall successful year for the ABs unless they somehow lose to Italy in 2 weekends.

One for the purists tonight with a bar of soap for a ball. And I think he'll be off with a red for the contact. Our first 20 minute in the NH potentially. And they 100% play a lot in the wet in the URC and 6n, so they are very used to floor work. Nic I think should be less lenient of Irish shithousery at the ruck imo, but Ireland are very good at this area