9 Jun 2012

All Blacks trounce Ireland in Auckland

11:38 pm on 9 June 2012

The All Blacks beat Ireland 42-10 in Auckland to start new coach Steve Hansen's tenure in style.

The Irish had no answer to a clinical All Blacks performance in front of a near sell out crowd at Eden Park.

The men in black shook off the world cup hangover in emphatic style with the five tries to one demolition.

The Irish started the game with a hiss and a roar but the All Blacks absorbed the early pressure before striking back through the pinpoint goal-kicking of first five Dan Carter.

It wasn't long before the tide of possession turned New Zealand's way and Hansen's men began dismantling Ireland's defence.

Sustained pressure led to wing Julian Savea dotting down under the posts for the opening try of the game and the debutant had his second before halftime to give the All Blacks a 23-3 lead at the break.

Savea scored his third at the start of the second stanza, becoming the first All Black to score a hattrick on debut since Sitiveni Sivivatu in 2005.

Ireland then scored against the run of play but the match was beyond doubt and Hansen started to empty his bench.

The match lost it's structure in the dying stages but not before Conrad Smith scored in the final minutes to seal the All Blacks first win as world champions.