Ireland 22-24 New Zealand: Late Crotty try breaks Irish hearts

Ireland were left heartbroken as New Zealand stole victory at the death to maintain their 100% record in 2013.

The hosts had never beaten the All Blacks in 27 previous attempts, with only a draw in 1973 to show for their efforts against the southern hemisphere giants, and they will never come closer to pulling off a famous victory.

But with just seconds remaining, Richie McCaw’s side were awarded a penalty in their own half and they went through phase after phase before Ryan Crotty went over in the corner to level the scores at 22-22.

That left Aaron Cruden with a difficult conversion from almost on the touchline for victory and, after his first attempt slid wide of the far upright, referee Nigel Owens ruled the kick should be retaken after Ireland’s players charged the kicker after it appeared he had begun his movement towards the ball.

And this time the fly-half made no mistake as the All Blacks sealed their 14th victory of the calendar year to leave the Irish shattered.

It was a cruel fate they hardly deserved, especially after the blistering start they made to proceedings, racing into a 19-0 lead with three unanswered tries in a period of play that stunned the world champions.

Conor Murray and Rory Best both finished from close range, with Jonny Sexton landing both conversions, before Rob Kearney intercepted deep in his own half and ran the length of the field to touch down in the corner.

At that stage the Irish were in dreamland, blissfully unaware of the nightmare conclusion that would follow, and dreaming of a place in the record books.

But the All Blacks are the most feared team on the planet for a very good reason, and they got a foothold in the game when Cruden’s brilliant kick was gathered by winger Julian Savea, who burst through the last line of Irish cover to score under the posts.

A Sexton penalty made the half-time score 22-7 and it really did appear as though Ireland were set for a famous win, but the All Blacks shut their hosts out after the break as they battled back into the ascendancy.

Cruden kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 12 points and then added the conversion to Ben Franks’ try as the Kiwis cut the gap to just five as they made the score 22-17.

Sexton had the chance to extend that lead to eight points, and leave New Zealand needing two scores for victory, when the All Blacks were penalised for pulling down a maul in the 72nd minute, but he dragged his kick wide.

That left the door narrowly open for the Kiwis and, in typical fashion, they kicked it right off its hinges with the final play of the game.