In 2013 the All Blacks became the first international side in history to win all of their Test matches in a calendar year following a dramatic win over Ireland in Dublin.
The hosts were leading 22-17 with a minute left on the clock and in possession of the ball inside the All Blacks’ half at the Aviva Stadium, making their first ever win against New Zealand very much on the cards.
However in true All Backs fashion they pulled off one of the most remarkable final plays in Test match history to score a try and bring the scores level before Aaron Cruden snatched the win with a successful sideline conversion.
It was Nigel Owens who awarded a penalty to New Zealand which gave them a lifeline in the final minute and after a ridiculous set of phases Ryan Crotty scored the try in the corner to level the scores.
The drama then continued after Cruden missed the conversion, but was given a second opportunity by Owens after the Irish were deemed to have attempted an illegal charge down on the fly half.
Cruden took the second opportunity and slotted the kick to secure a historic win for the All Blacks and deny Ireland their first ever win over New Zealand in 108 years of Test match rugby.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said after full time: “To be a minute away from history and have the ball in your hands on their 10-metre line … it’s devastating.
“A draw would have been as good as a loss to us. We haven’t won in 108 years against these guys. We didn’t want to do what we’ve done before.”
Ireland skipper Paul O’Connell added: “We were 60 metres from our line and I’d have been confident of holding them out the way we’d defended for the rest of the game.”
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