They may have lost a series at home to Ireland and recently been defeated by France and South Africa, but the All Blacks' smart kicking game and devilish work at the breakdown saw them home in a nail-shredding, beautiful exhibition of rugby.
What a way for it all to end for Johnny Sexton, Ireland's beating heart and soul for so long. At 38 he is done. For a man who has woven so many fabulous epics for this Ireland side, the final page of his playing career finishes as a bitter tear-jerker after his side's 30-phase finale came to naught. Ireland can win Grand Slams.
They can chalk up series wins against the big beasts of the Southern Hemisphere. Yet a World Cup semi final - never mind a final continues to elude them.
Rugby is a place where pity can be hard to locate, but it is hard not to pity the likes of Conor Murray four world cups and still not a semi-final to show for it.
Paris had fast become as Irish as Guinness and James Joyce but it was the All Blacks rather than the black stuff that was, ultimately, the toast of the evening.
Denne historien er fra October 15, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra October 15, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
