New Zealand laid down another marker with 10 tries against a very experienced Ireland side full of Super League stars.
It sustains their 100% record and sees them fly into the quarter-finals.
Highlights:
Ireland’s positive start
Ireland started positively with some superb defence and were committed to moving New Zealand around with the ball. Some decisions sadly went against them which could have made their start even better but it wasn’t to be. That said, they did take the lead through an Ed Chamberlain penalty.
Jinking Jahrome
After falling behind early, Jahrome Hughes conjured up a piece of magic to undo Ireland’s resistance jinking his way through with a number of right footed steps.
🇳🇿 Slips through the line!
An impressive start from Ireland, but Jahrome Hughes squeezes through to give New Zealand the lead.#RLWC2021 | #NZLIRE | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/asfF71oAsd
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 28, 2022
Inch-perfect
Hughes continued to pull the strings with a masterful assist for Jordan Rapana. He stepped away from a tackle before producing a literally inch perfect kick for Rapana who caught it and had to stop before touching the ball down prior to the dead ball line.
Ireland hopes hunted by Hughes and Hiku
Hughes continued to torment the Irish and another kick, this time a delicate grubber, set Peta Hiku up for a try that seemed to end Ireland hopes early.
Senior steals the pass
But those hopes were renewed when Louis Senior produced a lovely intercept to race away for his fifth try of the tournament to make it 16-6.
☘️ Listen to that roar!
Louis Senior with quick thinking and quicker pace to pull one back for Ireland.#RLWC2021 | #NZLIRE | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/AHFgPy9B1f
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 28, 2022
Ireland hopes hunted by Hughes and Hiku 2.0
Once again it seemed that the combination of Hughes and Hiku had ended Ireland hopes. This time Hughes arched round the defence and fed the ball to Hiku.
Rapana’s using every inch
After scoring his first try an inch from the dead ball line, Rapana got a second in the second half in which he was a millisecond away from being in touch. After Luke Keary’s attempted tackle, he stumbled over the line but was able to plant the ball down a fraction of a second before his toe touched the whitewash.
🇳🇿 The Kiwis are turning the screw now!
New Zealand have been dominant in the second half, with Jordan Rapana going over early after the break.#RLWC2021 | #NZLIRE | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/K1Lk1aXT32
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 28, 2022
Three tries give Kiwis extra comfort
New Zealand had virtually wrapped up their place in the last eight but were still looking for tries and got them through James Fisher-Harris, Jahrome Hughes and Kenny Bromwich. The first two were bursts through the Ireland line from close range before a fumbled kick led to Bromwich scoring.
Second for Senior
Louis Senior continued to score tries for fun when he chased a kick, trapped Ronaldo Mulitalo, forced a knock on and grounded the ball. The try leaves him as the competition’s top try scorer.
Manu Magic
New Zealand’s first try of the match was all about the dancing feet of Hughes but fullback Joey Manu wasn’t to be out done scoring New Zealand’s 10 try with a lovely bust through the middle owing to some lovely footwork.
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