All Blacks coach Ian Foster says his side were taught a harsh lesson on the difficulties of playing away against the northern hemisphere's best, after his side were beaten 29-20 by Ireland.
While the All Blacks demolished Wales 54-16 with a seven-try exhibition two weeks ago, they faced an Irish onslaught at Dublin, where they have been pushed harder and harder in recent years, including a defeat last time they played in 2018.
"It's been three years since we've been up here [in Europe]," Foster notes. "For a number of the players, they haven't really been in a test up here and it's very, very different.
"It's very much a pressure game you've got to deal with. You've got to be at the top end of your discipline, because if they sense weakness and suddenly you start to give up a couple of back-to-back penalties, then you feed into a game that teams like to play."
Foster says his team, who fell back behind South Africa at the top of the world rankings after the defeat, became too easily frustrated at times when they couldn't secure the ball and unravelled early in the second half, when Ireland scored two decisive tries.
"I was delighted with the fact that under the sheer weight of possession and territory, our defence stood up pretty strong and got through to halftime a bit battered, but in a reasonably good position," he adds.
"We weren't very clinical in those first 10 minutes [of the second half] and we had to go chasing the game. They played 'hide the ball' very well and you have to give them credit."
Reuters.
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