Rugby

05th Nov 2016

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks and nobody can quite believe it

Did that just happen?

Darragh Murphy

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks and nobody can quite believe it

They did it.

God knows how they did it but they did it. So drink it in.

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks in Chicago.

And this is how it happened.

It started with a penalty via the boot of Johnny Sexton.

https://twitter.com/daniellexfox/status/794994262857359362

The next score led many to believe that the floodgates were about to open up.

Well that was short lived, All Blacks try 5-3 #IREvNZL

— Ryan (@RufusBeard7) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/autosuggested/status/794995045405433860

3-5 better defence needed Ireland #IREvNZL

— Méabh Cody (@meabhc) November 5, 2016

But then Ireland touched down for a try of their very own and proved, at the very least, that they belonged in the game.

https://twitter.com/unlaoised/status/794997718255013889

Great stuff Ireland. What a start. 10-5 after 12 mins in #IREvNZL

— Professor Ursula Kilkelly (@Ukilkelly) November 5, 2016

Hon the boys, Try time!!! Sexton with a peach of a conversion 10-5 🇨🇮 #IREvNZL

— Shaun leneghan (@Langer003) November 5, 2016

Then, boom, a second Irish try reared its beautiful head.

Get the fucker with the fiddle out at half time again! 15-5 #IREvNZL

— Barra Ó Cearmada (@barros_maximus) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/olearysays/status/794999375651074048

Ireland 15-5 All Blacks. That's enough, blow the final whistle now!! #IREvNZL #IRLvNZ

— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) November 5, 2016

Penalties were exchanged but then, all of a fucking sudden, Murray broke the New Zealand line and got it down and that’s the way the scoreboard stayed until the break.

https://twitter.com/mufc_gary/status/795005872120430592

Upset on the cards #IREvNZL the men in green on fire 🔥 25-8

— Richard Diplock (@dippydash11) November 5, 2016

TRY!! 25-8 to Ireland. What are we seeing??? #IREvNZL

— Jonny Barrett (@jonnydbarrett) November 5, 2016

25-8 at halftime fantastic 1st half performance from the lads, let's do the same in the 2nd and make history #IREvNZL

— Shane Monahan (@themainmanmono) November 5, 2016

#IREvNZL 40 mins to history? HT IRE 25-8 NZL

— Gavin Duffy (@GavinDuffy) November 5, 2016

After getting a much-needed breather, it was expected that New Zealand would come out all guns blazing but, in fact, it was none other than Simon Zebo who got the first score of the second half.

https://twitter.com/amielouluv/status/795014683141017601

Massive… Zebo Try!!! #Wow 30-8 Ireland #IREvNZL

— Shaun leneghan (@Langer003) November 5, 2016

You little dancer Zebo. Get in!! What a great try. I can't take this all in 💚 #IREvNZL

— Deniese Ní Fhlatharta (@deniese_o) November 5, 2016

YESSSSSS!!!! Fucking YESSSS Try by Zebo on 48min 30 v 8!!! Surely we win this now…surely #IREvNZL

— BMJF (@Bertfar) November 5, 2016

Then the tide turned but “tide” wasn’t the four-letter word of choice

Fuck Try New Zealand 😮 30-15 #IREvNZL

— Mark (@TheIrishRedman) November 5, 2016

NZ break back with a try of their own. That's why the are No 1. Game on! 30-15 #IREvNZL

— busabala (@lugave) November 5, 2016

Fuck #IREvNZL

— Conor Healy (@CHealy_10) November 5, 2016

Oh shit Ireland you can't fuck this up, surely #IREvNZL

— Jim Locke (@zedsdead23) November 5, 2016

Ah fuck….hold it together lads!!! #IREvNZL

— Justin Dowling (@bambi_JD) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/unlaoised/status/795016662785388544

https://twitter.com/ConorPacKelly/status/795019072165605377

https://twitter.com/aliefahey/status/795018317048201216

It became a one-score game.

https://twitter.com/FintanMusic/status/795020325926924288

33-29 10 mins to go. Can't watch! #IREvNZL

— Alan Ferguson (@alanfergs) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/jburns834/status/795020839645224960

Then Henshaw made the impossible very, very, very possible.

Unreal from Henshaw #IREvNZL

— Padraig Nolan (@PadraigNolans) November 5, 2016

Henshaw fucking legend 👍#IREvNZL

— Paul D (@PaulDunphy2) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/Rob7111/status/795022722019590144

Henshaw gets my first born #IREvNZL

— Thomas Walsh (@thisisnotmysand) November 5, 2016

Henshaw deserved that one #IREvNZL

— Clodagh (@ClodaghOox) November 5, 2016

Henshaw might just have made history #Ireland #Rugby #IREvNZL

— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) November 5, 2016

80 minutes of absolute war left bodies battered, muscles aching and jerseys blood-caked but they had done it.

Ireland beat the All Blacks.

And nobody could quite believe it.

DARE TO DREAM #IREvNZL

— Rachel ⚡️ (@Rachie_h0ward_) November 5, 2016

One of the greatest moments in Irish sports, what a game..what a performance!! #IREvNZL

— Ciaràn Madden (@cmadd193) November 5, 2016

Stunning performance from Ireland. What a way to claim your first win over New Zealand. The All Blacks' 18-game winning run is over #IREvNZL

— Jonny Green (@JonnyGreenSport) November 5, 2016

Bawling!! That one is for Axel!#IREvNZL

— JJ (@jayhartigan) November 5, 2016

My nerves…sweet mother of God…Axel is defo in with the man upstairs #IREvNZL

— Shirley O'Neill (@curleynurse) November 5, 2016

Ireland, Ireland,
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call#IREvNZL #Axel pic.twitter.com/edHaVeCRVn

— David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) November 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/KatieAnnDuffy/status/795024279037476864