All Blacks Tops in Thriller

A hat trick of tries from full back Ben Blair helped New Zealand to a 43-30 win over Ireland A in Ravenhill.

In a highly entertaining game played in front of a full house, the young Cantebury full back stole the honours with a personal haul of 38 points to put himself in line for a place in the side for Saturday’s Test at Lansdowne Road.

Anthony Horgan showed pace aplenty with two fine second half tries while out-half Paddy Wallace accounted for 20 of his side’s 30 points, delivering an impeccible display of place kicking to add to an all round impressive performance.

Ireland trailed 36-6 at the break but were brought right back into the game with three Wallace penalties to leave just eight points separating the sides as the game entered the final quarter. Then Blair delivered the coup de grace with two tries in as many minutes and converted both to put the Blacks seemingly out of sight.

However, Ireland came storming back with those two Horgan tries to round off a most enjoyable game.

Ireland A: Duffy, A. Horgan, Holland, J. Bell, Howe, P. Wallace, O’Meara, Corrigan, Byrne, Best, Cullen, O’Driscoll, Quinlan, Gleeson, Costello. Replacements: Shields, Fitzpatrick, O’Connell, McWhirter, Willis, Dunne, McKenna.

New Zealand: Blair, Randle, Mauger, Ralph, Alatini, Hill, Robinson, Hewett, T. Willis, Meeuws, Waller, Maling, Collins, Holah, P. Miller. Replacements: Oliver, Feek, Jack, McClaw, Kelleher, Mehrtens, Lomu.