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Tries from Leon MacDonald (2), Caleb Ralph, Marty Holah and Byron Kelleher meant the All Blacks took a 2-0 Test series win.

Gary Longwell scored a consolation try for the Irish in the second half.

Ireland were a shadow of the side that narrowly lost 15-6 in Dunedin a weeks ago.

A number of handling errors in the second half showed the gap between the two nations.

O'Sullivan criticises referee

The visitors, though, started the stronger as the All Blacks looked nervous and gave up a lot of possession.

But all they had to show for the early pressure was a drop goal from Brian O'Driscoll in the 22nd minute.

Andrew Mehrtens had given the All Blacks the lead against the run of play five minutes earlier with a penalty.

Tired Irish

All Black full-back MacDonald scored the only try of the first half when he was on the end of the first notable break made by the home side, from centre Aaron Mauger, in the 36th minute.

The All Blacks scored their second try straight after the break when Ralph went over in the corner after good work in midfield from Jonah Lomu and MacDonald.

A Mehrtens penalty 10 minutes into the second half looked to have set New Zealand on the path to victory.

Aaron Mauger streaks clear in midfield
But Ireland scored straight from the kick-off when O'Driscoll streaked clear down the right wing, setting up a maul from which Longwell touched down.

O'Gara failed to add the extra two points and was relieved of his kicking duties by the replacement David Humphreys.

On 65 minutes Byron Kelleher came straight off the bench to score the All Blacks third try, which was converted by Mehrtens.

Any hopes of a comeback from the Irish were dispelled by a yellow card for Alan Quinlan after an innocuous challenge in a ruck.

While he was sidelined Holah went clear from a scrum to register his second Test try, and the All Blacks fourth on the night.

Ireland's 14 men could not keep MacDonald out for his second try minutes later as the visitors tired under an All Black barrage.

Teams:

New Zealand: Marshall, Mehrtens, Ralph, A. Mauger, Robinson, Lomu, MacDonald, Hewett, Hammett, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Robertson. Replacements: McDonnell, Maling, Holah, Kelleher, Gibson, Howlett, T. Willis.

Ireland: Stringer, O'Gara, Bishop, Kelly, B. O'Driscoll, Murphy, Dempsey, Corrigan, Wood, Hayes, Longwell, O'Kelly, S. Easterby, Gleeson, Foley. Replacements: P. Wallace, Cullen, A. Quinlan, G. Easterby, Humphreys, Deane, S. Byrne.


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