Ireland crushed by rampant All Blacks

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Tries from Ma'a Nonu and Brad Thorn ensured Brian O'Driscoll's 50th Test as captain ended in crushing disappointment at a packed Croke Park.

A penalty try awarded when Tommy Bowe cynically palmed the ball out of bounds with Richie McCaw waiting to touch down set the All Blacks on their way.

Ireland were holding their own but Bowe's error in first-half injury-time - which also earnt him a yellow card - gave the All Blacks a 10-3 interval lead.

Ronan O'Gara, who accounted for Ireland's only points, endured a disappointing evening, with his kicking out of hand often putting his side on the back foot.

Ireland appeared to have weathered the storm in the opening quarter yet mistakes by Donncha O'Callaghan and O'Gara put them back under pressure. Their blunders were overshadowed by Carter's missed penalty from in front of the posts moments later, his second of the match.

But Ireland seemed intent on helping their opponents as much as possible and soon conceded another penalty which Carter was able to land.

Alan Quinlan was then was lucky not to get punished for a blatant stamp on Rodney So'oialo and Ireland were awarded a penalty in the same passage of play which O'Gara converted.

But disaster struck on the stroke of half time when Bowe illegally attempted to save a certain score that beckoned for McCaw, with a penalty try awarded.

Ireland's defence was buckling and it finally cracked in the 48th minute, the All Blacks running rings around an opposition backline composed of forwards with Nonu strolling over. Carter converted and Brad Thorn then collected a long pass from the increasingly influential Rokocoko and bulldozed through Bowe.