Ireland's incredible 32-22 win at Wellington on Saturday to seal their first ever test series victory against New Zealand sent shock waves across the rugby world, as scribes rushed to pay tribute to Andy Farrell's men, while painting a bleak picture of an All Blacks side in dire straits.
"It won’t be just Ireland who will never fear the All Blacks ever again. Nobody else will be in awe of them. That’s something New Zealand will have to deal with. But global rugby has changed and it is Andy Farrell’s Ireland who have shifted the axis.
"Most teams are capable of a one-off result, but to back it up and repeat it is the stuff of greatness. On the three previous occasions when Ireland beat New Zealand, the All Blacks came back and beat them by an average of over 22 points on each occasion.
"Not this time though. All week we heard about the hurt and anger and momentum being generated by the All Blacks. Former skipper Sean Fitzpatrick said the All Blacks had ‘five million shareholders’, who expected a response. They have always got a dividend and they expected it again at the Cake Tin.
"Full marks then to Ireland for not allowing them to get a foothold. Everything you could want from a team came in floods. The superb defence, the quality of the tries, the manner in which they dealt with the New Zealand comeback after the break, the superb discipline and the complete absence of stupid mistakes. As near to the complete performance as you could wish from a team."
"Ireland outclassed a statement which would have seemed utterly fanciful in the past. The first 40 minutes may well go down as the best in Irish rugby history. It was a procession. But the result was not shocking, a sign of how far Ireland have come and indeed how far New Zealand have fallen.
"All the talk in the build-up centred on how New Zealand would respond to a first-ever defeat to Ireland at home, and they did come up with a spirited effort - but only after trailing 22-3 at half-time, their biggest deficit at the interval since the dawn of Test rugby.
"That abysmal first half, when New Zealand couldn't catch a cold, left the All Blacks with a mountain to climb, a feat they couldn't manage despite three second-half tries.
"The increase in quality from New Zealand in the second half from the first was significant, no question. But this was Ireland's day, their series, delivering an utterly astonishing performance packed with resolve and quality. Winning in New Zealand once seemed impossible. No longer. Ireland have conquered the All Blacks."
"Hail the Ireland tourists of 2022. The history makers.
"Having become just the fifth country, and sixth team including the Lions, to beat the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, Ireland joined an equally select group in winning a series in New Zealand, something that only the Lions, South Africa, France and Australia have ever done.
"To put this staggering achievement into context, perhaps the high watermark in the history of Irish rugby, the All Blacks have hosted circa 62 series, and this is only the fifth time they have lost one, and the first since France in 1994, making it the first away series win over the almighty All Blacks of the professional age and, quite possibly, the last ever as well. Wow.
"What's more, Johnny Sexton and his team did so by coming from one-nil down in the series with two deserved wins, reserving their best until last as Andy Farrell had hoped in this pulsating decider.
"The thousands in green came to the front of all four stands for the lap of honour. Maybe the win of all Irish wins."
"Head coach Farrell had expressed hope that his side had saved their best performance for the final test.
"The Englishman duly had his wish granted during a phenomenal opening 40 minutes packed with power and intensity before the Irish weathered a second-half storm intensified by the loss of prop Andrew Porter to a yellow card to take the series 2-1.
"The outclassed All Blacks deserved credit for not rolling over but the sensational result piles further pressure on under-fire head coach Ian Foster.
"New Zealand were lacking leadership and ideas, while being constantly outwitted."
"It is a testament to [coach Andy Farrell's] sanguine, grounded, yet clearly inspirational leadership of Ireland that his consideration of this historic achievement was put within the context of the next milestone.
"Organised and dynamic attack from multiple phases, alloyed with power and guile in the tight situations, restricted New Zealand to a Jordie Barrett penalty and created a brace of further tries before the break
"Tadhg Beirne decided Savea would not be taking the individual plaudits come the close, the Munster lock making three decisive defensive interventions at the breakdown. Each one killed an ominous All Black attack. An incredible, game-winning effort."
"The series win will go down as one of Ireland's greatest rugby achievements, against a side that tormented them in an utterly one-sided rivalry for over a century.
"Coming in to the tour there was tentative optimism that Ireland could break their duck in New Zealand, but few outside the camp dared predict a series triumph.
"Since 2016 Ireland have, brick-by-brick, stripped New Zealand of the invincible aura that surrounded them for the first 111 years of the sides' rivalry.
"A first win, followed by a first home victory before, last week, a win on Kiwi soil.
"What unfolded in Wellington on Saturday felt like a culmination of everything Ireland had gained from their recent triumphs - the fear factor had been totally eradicated.
"In fact it was the All Blacks who crumbled under the weight of the occasion in the first half. Dishevelled in defence and unable to keep hold of the ball in attack, they failed to cope with Ireland's accuracy and poise."
Ian Ransom - Sydney Morning Herald
"A courageous Ireland held off an All Blacks fightback to claim a famous 32-22 win in Wellington on Saturday night and seal the three-test series 2-1 with an irresistible blend of muscle and inspiration.
"Warhorse captain Johnny Sexton was supreme as the Irish shot out to a 22-3 lead by halftime, stunning the hosts with sparkling tries, bone-jarring tackles and razor-sharp skills.
"Ireland will now shoot to the top of the world rankings a year out from the World Cup, while New Zealand’s defeat, their fourth in five tests, will heap further pressure on embattled coach Ian Foster."
