AUCKLAND (AFP) – Coach Dave Rennie said he was “really rapt” after New Zealand unfurled a commanding first-half performance to beat Ireland 40-21 yesterday and extend their remarkable unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 53 matches.

The All Blacks scored four of their six tries in the first spell to lead 28-7 at the interval, setting up a third win from three matches in the inaugural Nations Championship. Playing their final game of the season, Ireland failed to mount a sustained assault on the home side’s 32-year-old record in Auckland.

They paid for an error-riddled start in which they missed too many tackles and made fundamental handling mistakes.

New coach Rennie described New Zealand’s performance as “clinical” and an improvement on their wins over France and Italy as they went three-from-three in the Nations Championship. “Yeah, really rapt. They’re such a good side, Ireland, and we asked a lot of questions of them,” Rennie told reporters. “I thought the balance of our game was really good tonight. Our big men carried, we were a little bit more direct and there was smarter kicking.

“They came here with a lot of confidence and with a very experienced squad who play a lot of footy together. We’re quite a new group.”

Ireland improved as the match progressed but couldn’t add to this month’s Nations Championship wins over the Wallabies and Japan in Australia.

Patrick Tuipulotu scored New Zealand’s opening try, bursting onto a short pass from fellow lock Josh Lord.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin