If the All Blacks versus Ireland match was not one of the most absorbing tests of 2016, then it must have been close to it.
Ireland, led by their inspirational skipper and hooker Rory Best, threw everything at the All Blacks as they kept running the ball from all angles of the park.
However, the All Blacks were just far too efficient.
The All Blacks scored three tries to beat Ireland 21‑9 in Dublin.
Even when conceding two yellow cards, with Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa sent to the cooler in each half, and getting caned 14‑4 in the penalty count, the New Zealanders relied on a mighty defensive effort to keep the Irish tryless.
If Ireland had beaten the All Blacks, they would have built on their 40‑29 victory in Chicago a fortnight earlier.
This is until Malakai Fekitoa scored his second try in the 66th minute which made that possibility all the more hard.
Onto other results, Georgia beat Samoa 20-16, Italy beat to South Africa 20-18 while Tonga beat USA 20-17.
Scotland edged Argentina 19-16 while France lost to Australia 23-25.
Meanwhile, Fiji was thrashed by England with 58-15.
Source: stuff.co
