Too Good in Taranaki

The All Blacks have thrashed Ireland 66-28 in New Plymouth. Outscored by nine tries to four, it was a bad night for the Irish who have failed to beat the New Zealanders in 23 Test matches. Reduced to 14 men when No8 Jamie Heaslip was sent off with just over 15 minutes gone, the visitors never stood a chance against a fired-up All Blacks outfit and matters just got worse when Ronan O’Gara was sin-binned for cynical play midway through the first period. By half-time the hosts were 38-7 up after tries by Conrad Smith, Kieran Read, Ben Franks and two for Jimmy Cowan, and it was young lock Whitelock who had the final say in the second half, dotting down for New Zealand’s ninth and final try. New Zealand next face Wales at Carisbrook in Dunedin.