Ireland script epic upset of All Blacks in Dublin

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The Irish capital of Dublin was the backdrop for James Joyce's modern-day epic Ulysses. The city, immortalized in Leopold Bloom's adventure in a single day drawing parallels to Homer's magnum opus Odyssey, witnessed a real-life epic on a chilly Saturday night.

Ireland caused one of the major upsets in world rugby as the not-so-fancied hosts virtually toyed with the two-time defending world champions and this year's rugby championship winners, the gargantuan All Blacks. It wasn't quite a David versus Goliath battle but the Irish certainly scripted a Theseus-like 16-9 win demystifying the labyrinth of the monstrous ABs juggernaut.

The 16-9 win at Lansdowne Road was no fluke for a side, helmed by master tactician Joe Schmidt, the man who bolstered his chances to succeed current All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen once his contract expires after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. His previous triumph over the invincibles came in 2016 in Chicago.

Ireland's Jacob Stockdale celebrates after scoring his side's first try during the Guinness Series International match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. /VCG Photo

The ABs, whose only defeat in the championship this year came against the Springboks at home, started as favorites, especially after their comeback thriller at a rain-drenched, energy-sapping Twickenham encounter against the Three Lions last week.

However, the also-rans of world rugby, playing in front of a partisan crowd, reigned supreme over their fancied rivals from the word go and carried forward their momentum until the end of the right from the beginning to the final whistle.

"We just couldn't break them," sighed a dejected All Blacks captain Kieron Read after the thrashing defeat.

Read, however, was quick to praise the resurgent rivals. "That happens sometimes, you've just got to give credit to the Irish, they are the better side today."

A jubilant Schmidt certainly knew the importance of this victory not only for his side but for his own future as well. "We've created little bits of history over the last couple of years and to get a win on home soil against New Zealand is massive. We know how good they are and it took everything we had," the Irish coach remarked while soaking in the glorious victory.

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton kicks a conversion against New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. /VCG Photo

It was a match which saw the All Blacks couldn't quite bring out their unparalleled best and struggled to find the much-needed space to flourish throughout the game. The Irish side did their homework well and didn't quite give their rivals a chance to make their archetypal, indomitable late resurgence-like the ABs did during the England game or the Pretoria test against the Boks.

Jacob Stockdale's tries and Johnny Sexton's three penalty goals sealed the deal for the Irish with a hapless and often jaded ABs failing to score an elusive try throughout the game.

"They're the No. 2 side, I think they're now the No. 1 side because they've just beaten us so when you play a team like that the pressure comes right across the park," conceded Hansen, putting the supremacy debate to rest less than year before the much-anticipated battle for the Web Ellis Trophy in Japan next year.

(Quotes courtesy www.allblacks.com)