Grand Slam on track as All Blacks crush Ireland

Sitiveni Sivivatu crosses for one of his two tries. Ross Land / Getty Images

DUBLIN - Wings Sitiveni Sivivatu and Doug Howlett bagged two tries each to cap a dominant 45-7 All Blacks rugby win over Ireland this morning (NZT).

The All Blacks scored five tries to one to reach the halfway point of their Grand Slam bid with ease before a packed Lansdowne Rd crowd of 42,000.

It was the 100th anniversary of the two teams' rivalry but Ireland are still to beat New Zealand in 18 matches.

Nick Evans, in his first All Blacks test at first five-eighth, ran the backline well and kicked eight of his nine attempts at goal for a 20-points haul.

The score could have been even higher but the All Blacks had two more marginal tries to Howlett and Ma'a Nonu ruled out by television match official Roy Maybank of England, midway through the second half.

It was an impressive return for coach Graham Henry who changed his entire starting 15 from last weekend's 41-3 win over Wales.

Ireland scored their solitary try on the stroke of fulltime when prop Marcus Horan dived over beside the posts from a ruck, just dashing the All Blacks' hopes of going 160 minutes without conceding a try.

The All Blacks led 25-0 at halftime, with Sivivatu's second touchdown just before the break proving the fatal blow to Ireland's hopes.

Sivivatu, in his first test since the Lions series in July, opened the scoring in the 10th minute from a lovely pop pass from No 8 Mose Tuiali'i, who also sparked Sivivatu's second with a burst down the right touchline.

Ireland made a strong start before their home crowd but were clearly out-skilled by the All Blacks whose defence held and they dominated the rest of the match.

Halfback Piri Weepu scored the tourists' only try to a non-winger in the 21st minute after sharp interpassing between Evans, Nonu and captain Richie McCaw who was again a standout at the tackled ball area.

Nonu, who had an impressive strong second half, attracted controversy when he upended Gordon D'Arcy and drove him into the turf in the 50th minute, referee Jonathan Kaplan penalising him for a dangerous tackle.

Two Evans penalties stretched it to 31-0 with 30 minutes left, then Howlett was called back after putting a foot into touch and Nonu was ruled to have knocked on after a brilliant kick and regather.

Howlett then scored two tries in 10 minute from long passes from Nonu and Aaron Mauger to make it safe before one final Ireland surge.

Earlier, 7500 fans, including many New Zealanders, were denied entry to the ground when the North Stand was ruled unsafe after a fire yesterday.

Result:

New Zealand 45 (Sitiveni Sivivatu 2, Doug Howlett 2, Piri Weepu tries; Nivk Evans 4 pen, 4 con)
Ireland 7 (Marcus Horan try; David Humphreys con)
Halftime: 25-0.

- NZPA