New Zealand rallies late to beat Ireland 26-13 at Soldier Field
CHICAGO (AP) — New Zealand secured a 26-13 victory over a determined Ireland on Saturday, thanks to three tries scored in the final quarter by Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi, and Cam Roigard. The match took place in front of 65,000 fans, mostly supporting Ireland, at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
For much of the game, New Zealand struggled against Ireland’s aggressive rush defense and effective disruption at set pieces. Ireland entered the last quarter leading 13-7, appearing on track for a victory.
Key moments in the final quarter
- At the 61st minute, Williams scored after a tapped penalty, breaking through Ireland's defense.
- Five minutes later, Sititi crossed for a try following a clever play between Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
- In the 76th minute, Roigard sealed the win with a powerful run through a gap created by a dominant scrum.
Ireland’s disappointment
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Ireland captain Dan Sheehan said. “I don’t think we ever really got going. We saw very small patches of what we were looking for but couldn’t really put the whole picture together.”
The loss was particularly tough for Ireland, as they had hoped to replicate their first-ever win over New Zealand at Soldier Field, nearly nine years ago to the day.
New Zealand’s comeback
After a slow and somewhat disorganized start lasting 60 minutes, the All Blacks finally unleashed their attack in the final quarter, overturning Ireland’s lead and sealing the win.
Summary: New Zealand overcame a tough physical challenge and a late deficit to defeat Ireland 26-13, with three decisive tries in the last 15 minutes demonstrating resilience and strategic play.