Andy Farrell hailed his courageous Ireland side after they continued their outstanding recent form against New Zealand with a series-levelling 23-12 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The hosts were reduced to 14 men in the 31st minute following Angus Ta’avao’s red card and Andrew Porter crossed the whitewash either side of half-time for Farrell’s side.
Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett scored for the All Blacks in a feisty contest that also saw two yellow cards.
The result levels the series at 1-1 ahead of the third Test next week in Wellington and is Ireland’s first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.
It is also Ireland’s fourth win in seven games against New Zealand since their first triumph back in 2016.
“The game had a little bit of everything. It was a courageous effort,” said Farrell.
“I am just so pleased for the players because they were so desperate to inspire people back home.”
“They keep turning up time and time again for the Irish people and for Irish rugby, and I am so glad that they were able to get over the line.
“If you go back to the start of the game, we all know that the All Blacks on game two always come out of the blocks and that they are always better, faster and stronger under the roof here.
“And we were as courageous as we were last week, and we hit the ground running straight from the start again and piled some pressure on them.
“But what was most pleasing is that we didn’t get sucked into the allure of the game,
“Going down to 14 and then to 13, we kept applying pressure in the right areas, and I am just so proud of them.”
Ireland came out of the blocks firing and scored inside three minutes when Porter crashed over following a huge carry up the middle from Tadhg Beirne.
Leicester Fainga’anuku was sin-binned in the 14th minute, swiftly followed Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Ireland’s James Ryan.
Beauden Barrett stabbed a kick through the legs of Porter before grounding it himself to end the first half just three points behind Farrell’s side.
But an eventful day for Porter saw him score again, finishing a flowing move with a powerful drive in the 49th minute.
Jordan touched down in the corner, but with just two minutes remaining Ireland had done enough to cling on to the victory to set up a titanic third Test.
Farrell added: “The main thing is that we are learning how to deal with the pressures you get in the top-level games. Our composure is really good.
“Things are not always going to go as well for you within any game, especially against the world’s best, so our composure when we do make a mistake does not change, and we just stay on point, so we got we deserved.
“We have come over here for a reason, so these young lads to get some game time.
“We have a big squad. The game on Tuesday night against the Māori All Blacks is just as important to us as here tonight.”
