Ireland 13-26 New Zealand: Andy Farrell’s side face a crucial period after Chicago’s stuttering comeback

Ireland’s 40-29 win in Chicago nine years ago was one of the pinnacle moments in the team’s history, while the intensity and stakes of the World Cup quarter-final saw huge efforts from both sides in what is widely considered the pinnacle of the rivalry.

But entering Saturday, it didn’t look like any of those games.

Neither team reached their maximum and, with a combination of long layoffs due to tackle reviews and injuries, they failed to provide an interesting spectacle in a country hosting the World Cup six years later.

Ultimately, New Zealand won’t care. For them, a long-awaited fifth championship in the northern hemisphere is still in the cards after a second-half lead that resulted in three tries in 15 minutes.

However, Ireland has a lot to do.

Last year, they opened their autumn campaign with a loss to the All Blacks. Their performance in Dublin that night was one of the flattest of the Pharrell era and they weren’t much better here.

There were, at least, some positives. They responded strongly to Tadhg Byrne’s controversial early red card to take a 10-0 lead thanks to a Jack Crawley penalty and Tadhg Furlong’s first try since 2021.

Elsewhere, surprise inclusion at midfield Stuart McCluskey impressed in his debut against the All Blacks before being forced off through injury, while Ryan Bird staked his claim as a regular in the back row.

But while they led for 57 minutes, Ireland did not look completely in control. Having lost a tenacious player in Bern, they were outplayed and missed crucial tackles, while a difficult line-up weakened their ability to create chances and increase pressure on the scoreboard.