Ireland's class of 2016 stamped their names into the history books as Joe Schmidt's side dispatched New Zealand 40-29 in Chicago for their first win over the All Blacks in 111 years of trying.

Three days after the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year drought to land baseball's World Series, Ireland lit up Soldier Field with their maiden win over the All Blacks at the 29th attempt.

New Zealand's record-breaking winning run was halted at 18 Tests in the Windy City, with Robbie Henshaw powering home for Ireland's fifth and decisive try. The last time the Leinster centre Henshaw was at Soldier Field he was dancing to superstar DJ Tiesto's tunes - this time he inked his name into Ireland's annals.

Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Henshaw all crossed for Ireland, who had led 30-8 on 46 minutes before New Zealand fired back into the contest.

The All Blacks cut the deficit to 33-29, but, unlike in 2013 when Ireland surrendered a 22-7 lead in a 24-22 defeat, this time Schmidt's men held on.

George Moala, TJ Perenara, Ben Smith and debutant Scott Barrett all bagged tries for New Zealand, but Steve Hansen's back-to-back world champions were finally defeated - for the first time since August 2015.

Some five million people flocked to the Cubs' victory parade on Friday, and now the scores of Irish fans in town are fully able to join the party.

Ireland drew first blood thanks to Johnny Sexton's first-minute penalty, only for Moala to register a hugely controversial try on video review, with officials ignoring Kieran Read's clear high tackle on Stander.

New Zealand led 5-3 owing to Beauden Barrett's missed conversion, but were quickly reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. Prop Joe Moody eventually was sent to the sin-bin for dangerously upending Henshaw at a ruck.

Ireland punted the penalty to the corner, and drove flanker Murphy home. Sexton's touchline conversion wrestled Ireland a 10-5 lead in the 11th minute. Ireland quickly doubled their try count, taking full advantage of another high tackle. Sexton's peerless line punt to the corner set up another five-metre lineout. Rob Kearney cut the line tidily in the 13 channel and Stander powered home for his side's second score.

Beauden Barrett's penalty left Ireland leading 15-8 after 20 minutes. Rob Kearney soared above Ben Smith to the restart after the penalty, and from that platform Ireland bagged further points. Sexton slotted his second penalty, to leave Ireland leading 18-8.

Ireland then lost try-scorer Murphy to a suspected serious knee injury, the Leinster star carted off on a stretcher after twisting his boot into the turf. Ireland had entirely bossed possession and territory in a hugely-impressive opening half-hour, and Murray scampered through for the third try. The Ireland nine had pilfered a bouncing ball after Sexton's bomb, then sold Aaron Smith a cute dummy around the fringes, to romp over the whitewash. Sexton's conversion put Ireland 25-8 to the good.

They held that lead until the break. Moody was lucky to escape with just a penalty for a high shot on Kearney after the restart, especially given his first-half yellow card. Ireland punished the error once more, though, with Zebo flying into the left corner after another fine driven lineout. Sexton's delayed flat pass gifted Munster wing Zebo a walk-in, further stunning the All Blacks. The Leinster playmaker missed the touchline conversion, but Ireland still led 30-8.

New Zealand had already hooked stand-in lock Jerome Kaino for rookie Scott Barrett, and Aaron Smith for TJ Perenara. And it was Perenara who raced in for New Zealand's second score, a try owing everything to hooker Dane Coles' superlative offload. Beauden Barrett's conversion cut Ireland's lead to 30-15. No sooner had New Zealand shifted Ben Smith to the right wing, though, than he dotted down acrobatically in the corner. Beauden Barrett slotted the touchline conversion, with Ireland's lead down to 30-22.

Owen Franks' obstruction gifted Ireland a kickable penalty from the restart, but with Sexton receiving treatment for cramp, up stepped scrum-half Murray to the tee. The Munster star slotted the three points with ease, edging Ireland's lead to 33-22. Sexton was then forced out through potential injury, leaving 20-year-old rookie Joey Carbery to make one of the highest-pressure debuts.

Scott Barrett marked his own debut with New Zealand's fourth try, wrong-footing Kearney, with his brother Beauden converting to cut Ireland's deficit to just four points. Ireland still led 33-29 with 15 minutes to play, but the omens amid the All Blacks' recovery only continued to grow. Try-scorer Moala slumped off with 10 minutes to play with a serious-looking shoulder problem, leaving New Zealand forced into a total re-jig. Hooker Codie Taylor, as the last replacement available, slotted in at blindside, with flanker Ardie Savea moving out to the wing.

Zebo cut loose and then punted deep, Ireland forcing Julian Savea to touch down for a five-metre scrum. From the scrum Henshaw powered home for Ireland's fifth try, converted by Carbery. That left Ireland leading 40-29 with three minutes to play. Carbery missed a late penalty shot, but, in a week already dripping with sporting history, Ireland still hung on to add their own twang to the tale.</s>Chicago (AP) — Ireland repelled an extraordinary second-half rally to shock New Zealand 40-29 and post their first win over the All Blacks in 29 matches spanning 111 years on Saturday.

New Zealand rallied from 30-8 down after 47 minutes to close within four points at 33-29 when center Robbie Henshaw broke their line for Ireland’s fifth and match-winning try in the 76th minute.

Three years ago in Dublin, the All Blacks broke Irish hearts when they rallied from 19-0 down – the biggest comeback in their history – to deny Ireland an historic win with an injury-time try and conversion.

They seemed on the verge of repeating that at Soldier Field, where they closed within four points with 16 minutes remaining, but Ireland remained resolute to write their names into rugby history.

In doing so, they also ended the All Blacks’ record run of 18 straight test wins, and set up a potentially thrilling rematch in Dublin in two weeks.

Ireland played with remarkable skill and passion to stun the All Blacks with three first-half tries which gave them a 25-8 lead at halftime. Their fourth try to winger Simon Zebo made the lead 30-8, and the first time Ireland had notched 30 against New Zealand.

With little more than half an hour remaining, an historic Irish victory seemed assured.

But the All Blacks, who had barely been able to get their hands on the ball, mounted a determined comeback when they ensured more secure possession.

With tries to replacement scrumhalf TJ Perenara, fullback Ben Smith and debutant lock Scott Barrett, they sawed into Ireland’s lead and moved within a try’s breadth of another great comeback victory.

It seemed at that point the Irish were spent. Their robust defense was cracking, and New Zealand gained the momentum they needed to uphold an unbeaten run stretching back to 1905.

But with a piece of brilliance, the Irish broke out of their own half and, kicking ahead, forced an error from All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea, who was caught behind his own tryline. From the ensuing five-meter scrum, No. 8 Jamie Heaslip detached, and passed to Henshaw, who ran straight and hard past three defenders to score.

Ireland fans, who overwhelmingly outnumbered New Zealanders among the 64,000-strong crowd, began a delirious celebration. In the hometown of the Chicago Cubs, who ended their 108-year losing streak by winning baseball’s World Series this week, they went one better and stopped a 111-year run of outs.

And they left New Zealand with no excuses. They outmuscled and generally outplayed the world champion All Blacks. New Zealand’s discipline was fractured, and through handling errors and tactical mistakes they failed to keep Ireland under any kind of pressure.

Their rally, when it came, was determined, but it was too late, and it was again errors near the end, especially a pass from flanker Liam Squire which failed to find winger Julian Savea, which stalled their revival.

“It was a bridge too far,” All Blacks captain Kieran Read said. “It was the first half start from us that really let us down. You can’t give a quality side like Ireland the lead we gave them tonight.”

In Cardiff, Australia began their latest attempt at a grand slam of the home unions by humiliating Wales 32-8 on Saturday, with flyhalf Bernard Foley scoring one of the team’s five tries in a superb individual display.

Battle-hardened from the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies were too slick and incisive for Wales at Millennium Stadium, especially during a first half that finished 20-3 and should have been much worse for the hosts.

The Welsh have lost 12 straight tests against Australia stretching back to 2009. And this wasn’t one of the narrow defeats that have plagued Wales in many recent meetings.

Captain Stephen Moore finished off a rolling maul for Australia’s first try, inside center Reece Hodge exchanged passes with Israel Folau before racing clear, and outside center Tevita Kuridrani took Foley’s miss-pass and dummied his way over as the Welsh defense was pierced at will in the first half. Australia had 95 percent territory in the first 20 minutes.

Foley sprinted 30 meters after a well-worked move to get the try his all-round performance deserved in the 55th, although his kicking statistics — three successes from six attempts — let him down.

Many in the quiet crowd of 55,700 were already leaving before Dane Haylett-Petty’s interception try in the 76th completed the misery for the Welsh and made up for the winger’s first-half fumble, following Foley’s break and pass, when the try-line was at his mercy.</s>The Ireland flanker CJ Stander admitted he could never have helped his country make history against New Zealand without his rugby “rock” Anthony Foley.

Ireland ended their 111-year wait for a win over the All Blacks with a 40-29 success in Chicago. Before Saturday’s game, Stander fronted Ireland’s figure-of-eight tribute formation to the late Munster head coach Foley.

The 26-year-old stood alongside Conor Murray, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo in the front line of Ireland’s tribute to Foley while New Zealand performed the Haka at Soldier Field.

Stander laid the credit for his Test match career at the feet of former Ireland captain and No8 Foley, who died in October aged 42.

“We made a figure of eight; for me personally, Murray and all the Munster boys to stand at the front, that was big,” said Stander. “He meant so much to me, he was really the rock in my rugby the last four years.

“He showed me a lot about what he’d learned over the years. I think he pushed me to the next level.”

Ireland’s first win over New Zealand – at the 29th attempt – came courtesy of tries from Stander, Jordi Murphy, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Robbie Henshaw.

And Stander extolled the virtues of the late Foley, and how the gritty No8’s example inspired Saturday’s historic victory.

Foley was found dead at Munster’s team hotel on the morning of Ireland’s Champions Cup clash with Racing 92 in Paris, with that match quickly postponed.

Munster thumped Glasgow 38-17 at Thomond Park the following weekend, the day after Foley’s funeral. Stander scored a try that day, and bagged another try against the All Blacks.

Foley won 63 caps for Ireland and spearheaded Munster’s rise to the top of the European game, as the Thomond Park province won two Heineken Cup titles.

Stander arrived in Munster in 2012 still stung by being told he was too small to play back-row for the Springboks. Now he has eight Test caps and a part in history – and he believes much of the credit must fall to Foley.

“It’s the same as the Glasgow match; we wanted to give something back to him,” said Stander. “You just think of what type of man he was, what a legend he was. What he gave to me as a rugby player.

“Then in that 60th minute when you’re tired, you just think why you’re playing this match.

“It went well today, and everything we gave was for him. So this match was for Axel.”

Ireland will now host Canada in Dublin on Saturday as November’s autumn internationals return to more accustomed settings.

Joe Schmidt’s men then face New Zealand again at the Aviva Stadium on 19 November. Stander has already warned Ireland to expect a severe backlash from the back-to-back world champions, who were forced to surrender their 18-match winning streak in the USA.

“We spoke in the week that going up against the best means you have to give your best,” said Stander. “It was an unbelievable performance from all the boys and it’s a big confidence boost, but we’re playing them again in two weeks’ time so they’re going to come back with everything they have.

“We’re going to have to pick up the stuff we left on the pitch, there’s a few mistakes we made at the end there, but there’s also plenty of good that we’ve got to build on too.”</s>Having gone 28 games against Ireland without a defeat, it’s safe to say New Zealand were confident of stretching that run to 29 in Chicago on Saturday night.

And as reported by the New Zealand Herald, one Kiwi punter was so sure of an All Blacks victory they had placed $100,000 NZD on Steve Hansen’s side to remain unbeaten for the rest of 2016.

A TAB spokesperson confirmed to the New Zealand Herald the bet was placed before the All Blacks’ final Bledisloe Cup match against Australia, which they won.

At a price of $1.50, or 1/2, the punter would have made a profit of $50,000 had the All Blacks beaten Ireland, Italy and France this autumn.

However history was made on Saturday and Ireland conquered New Zealand for the first time in 111 years, winning 40-29 and leaving he or she with a beaten docket and a far lighter wallet.

It was possible to get odds of 10/1 about Ireland before their hurricane performance in the Windy City - a price which looks very generous after the event.</s>Ireland stunned New Zealand 40-29 on Saturday to claim a historic first-ever win over the All Blacks and end the world champions’ record 18-match winning streak.

In a breathtaking upset, Ireland outscored New Zealand five tries to four to seal its first win over the Kiwis in the 29th meeting between the two nations dating to 1905.

The Soldier Field crowd erupted in delight at the whistle, cheering the end of a second 100-plus year run of futility in the space of a few days after the city’s Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years on Wednesday.

The Irish were forced to hold off a ferocious New Zealand rally in the second half, which saw the All Blacks recover from a 30-8 deficit to move within four points at 33-29 late in the game.

But with the majority of the fans in a 62,300 sellout crowd roaring them on, the Irish scored a fifth and final try through blockbusting center Robbie Henshaw, converted by replacement fly-half Joey Carbery, to clinch a historic victory.

“It has been a long time coming and history (has been) made. We’re absolutely ecstatic,” Ireland skipper Rory Best told BT Sport.

“We knew they are a great side. You can see how good a side they are and how much it means to our boys to have won that.

“We just had to go out and attack them.”

It was New Zealand’s first defeat since a loss to Australia in August of 2015.

Only last month, the All Blacks set a world record for consecutive victories with their 18th win in a row.

New Zealand’s preparations had been thrown into disarray by the absence of injured first choice locks Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

That and the absence of second row Luke Romano, following a family bereavement, forced the All Blacks into starting a makeshift pairing of Jerome Kaino and Patrick Tuipulotu.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen refused to blame the injury crisis for the loss.

“The right side won,” Hansen said. “The Irish side played very well and congratulations to them.

“We don’t want to use (the injuries) as an excuse. We trained well enough, we prepared well enough we thought. We’re not going to make any excuses about not having the right people.”

Johnny Sexton kicked Ireland ahead with a penalty after only four minutes when French referee Mathieu Raynal whistled the All Blacks for not rolling away at the breakdown.

But New Zealand hit back immediately with the opening try of the game, George Moala finishing off after Waisake Naholo’s electrifying break.

Fly-half Beauden Barrett scuffed his conversion attempt to leave New Zealand’s lead at 5-3.

Ireland was then handed a crucial advantage after All Black prop Joe Moody was sin-binned for a clear tip tackle on Henshaw.

Ireland capitalized to score a try in the corner when Jordi Murphy barreled over from a driving maul. Sexton’s conversion made it 10-5.

The Irish were soon back on the attack. Sexton’s hanging ball to the edge of the 22 was superbly plucked from the air by fullback Rob Kearney and, after working through the phases, C.J. Stander battered over to make it 15-5.

Sexton missed the conversion, and Barrett closed the gap to seven points with a penalty after Ireland was called for being offside. Sexton restored Ireland’s 10-point advantage soon afterwards.

Ireland was forced to make a change in the 26th minute when Murphy was stretchered off with what looked like a knee injury. He was replaced by Josh van der Flier.

But the disruption was fleeting.

In the 34th minute, Ireland surged forward once more. A powerful drive left New Zealand on the defensive and from a ruck 10 meters out, scrum-half Conor Murray got by Aaron Smith to scamper over for Ireland’s third try.

Sexton converted to make it 25-8 at halftime.

The second half began with New Zealand looking sharper and faster, but it was the Irish who scored first.

Another attacking line-out from Ireland took the Irish close to the New Zealand line and the ball found Sexton, who fed Simon Zebo to put Ireland ahead 30-8.

Yet New Zealand roared back through tries from replacement T.J Perenara and Ben Smith to take the score to 30-22.

A Murray penalty put Ireland ahead 33-22, but a 64th minute try by All Black debutant lock Scott Barrett made it 33-27. Brother Beauden added the conversion.

Ireland’s defenders resisted the furious late pressure, though, and Henshaw crashed over with four minutes to go to complete a stunning victory.</s>In a week where the Chicago Cubs finally put the curse of the Billy Goat to bed, there was no shortage of folks here who thought Ireland were about to do something similar with the monkey on their back. In Ireland’s case that creature is all black, for New Zealand are the only team they had played but never beaten. This confidence was based not on anything as tangible as form, rather on the unique atmosphere that has gripped this city since the Cubs’ World Series win on Wednesday night. The question was not why, but why not?

And it was valid. In keeping with the script, Ireland found themselves hanging off a cliff with a gale-force wind blowing. Faced with the unlikely prospect of keeping their grip, somehow they got the energy and accuracy to clamber up to safety. At 30-8 early in the second half, with Simon Zebo’s try, you knew that if they could stay safe for another five minutes they would be OK. Then they conceded 14 points in six minutes, and suddenly it became an exercise of an entirely different nature. When the gap was reduced to four points they had looked doomed.

“It’s a massive day to be Irish,” Rob Kearney said. He had a huge game, along with Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong. “Not just for this team but for the players who went before us. We’ve been waiting a long time to beat the All Blacks – it’s such a difficult feat. We gave everything today. I think we deserved it. After the Cubs at the weekend there was something in the air in Chicago.”

They ended up with Conor Murray doing the goal-kicking after Johnny Sexton went off with a leg injury – he was one from one, 100% then – and a debutant in Joey Carbery who less than six months ago was playing club rugby – as in the rung below Ireland’s professional game.

The Kiwis had their own issues, and ended up with Ardie Savea, a back rower on the wing. Ireland had the presence of mind to put him under pressure when he had to fill that role.

Keeping their heads was the big issue though for Ireland. The 2013 defeat to this opposition, and the manner of it, raised its head on a few occasions. Back then Ireland had led 22-7; this time it was 25-8. And when they scored first in the second half then the vast Irish contingent in the 62.300 crowd – the biggest ever for a Test match in this country –must have believed they were home and hosed. It was then they discovered they were on the wrong street.

The scale of the climb for the All Blacks had been set in a first half where they were second best all over the place. Operating on 33% possession, and the same in territory, they had just one moment that sent a wave of panic through the Irish fans, and that came in the fifth minute when Waisake Naholo opened the Irish defence with ease, en route to a try for George Moala that needed confirmation from the TMO. And that was it.

Everywhere else they were in trouble, conceding more than twice as many penalties, and unable to secure more than 57% of ball out of touch, as against Ireland’s 100%.

Most worrying for Steve Hansen would have been the 4-8 count of turnovers conceded in Ireland’s favour. When you factor in that Ireland were not falling off tackles – typically their biggest weakness against this opposition – then the ABs were in trouble.

That had been exacerbated by the binning of Joe Moody for a tip tackle on Henshaw, and with the prop away Ireland plundered 14 points, which on top of Sexton’s opening penalty saw them lead 15-5 after 17 minutes.

The first try came for Jordi Murphy from a maul – where Ireland were very strong – before Rob Kearney produced great footwork for a CJ Stander try after Ireland had to regroup when a planned maul had to be scrapped. The try that really rattled the All Blacks though came six minutes before the break when a great Sexton garryowen was reclaimed by Murray, who moments later exposed weak defence on the side of the ruck to score from 20 metres.

Each side had lost a man early – Ryan Crotty and Murphy, with a serious knee injury – and relatively that was a bigger blow for New Zealand.

They were first out in the second half looking like they were ready or work. Yet when they owned the ball for the opening five minutes, for no reward, it gave Ireland huge heart, as it had done midway through the first half when Ireland had to defend for even longer.

But it was Ireland who struck again, after a soft penalty against Moody for a high tackle opened the door for Zebo to score in the corner.

Significantly, Sexton pulled the conversion, and within a few minutes the replacement TJ Perenara touched down to change the complexion of the game. Within six minutes it had shrunk again, courtesy of Ben Smith. And while Murray pulled back three for Ireland, as Sexton went off with a leg injury, Scott Barrett got over on 65 minutes to leave just four points in it with 16 minutes left.

The reality for Ireland was they would have to score rather than try and hang on. And with four minutes left that’s what they did after Murray had done brilliantly to nail Julian Savea behind his own line. From the scrum Jamie Heaslip put Henshaw over to make it a two-score game. And that was enough.</s>Rather than mourn the end of the All Blacks' world-record winning run Sunday, New Zealanders backed coach Steve Hansen's analysis that Ireland deserved their historic 40-29 victory in Chicago.

"The right side won... we're not going to make any excuses," Hansen declared as the New Zealand news media and callers to talk radio voiced agreement.

"Sweet sporting history made," Fairfax New Zealand said on its website, highlighting that it was Ireland's first win over New Zealand after 29 Tests in 111 years.

In New Zealand, where rugby is almost a religion, Test losses usually cause national mourning and the more surprising the loss the bigger the hurt.

But with nearly one in five New Zealanders also claiming Irish ancestry, this time the usual despondency was replaced by a feeling that if any team deserved to beat the All Blacks, it was Ireland.

The loss put a full stop on the All Blacks' winning streak at 18, one more than the previous record which New Zealand shared with South Africa.

"It's our friends the Irish who broke the record. We kind of feel OK about it," Radio Sport host Tony Veitch said.

"Sometimes there is no disgrace in losing. And sometimes it is more important to celebrate success, even if it's the other team that's won," he said.

"Few, in fact only the most curmudgeonly, will deny Ireland their moment to savour, their day to remember."

Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul noted it has been a year of unfancied champions, with Leicester City triumphing in the English Premier League and the Chicago Cubs ending a 108-year drought to win Major League Baseball's World Series.

"The sporting gods obviously have a taste for this kind of feel good story and they smiled upon Ireland," he wrote.

"Well, baseball, rugby will take your 108 years and raise you to 111. That's how long the men from the Emerald Isle have been waiting to secure their first ever victory over the All Blacks," he said.

World Cup-winning All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder, who has missed the 2016 internationals because of a shoulder injury, took the philosophical view that the loss was not the end for the top-ranked side.

"There's always next week," he told Sky TV, before adding: "You have to give it to Ireland — they were outstanding today and deserved the game."

"They've done it," Radio New Zealand declared on its website while Television New Zealand said: "Staunch Irish break All Blacks 2016 winning streak".</s>As Rory Best declared in his on-field post-match interview at a rowdy Soldier Field in Chicago, it’s been a long time coming. Just the 111 years, that’s all. But at last, that black stain in Irish rugby has been removed, with a first ever victory over the All Blacks in 29 attempts.

Fully deserved it was too. Soldier Field crackled with atmosphere, vast swathes of the 63,300 bedecked in green watched Ireland dominate vast swathes of the first-half and kept counter-punching in a riotous rollercoaster of a second half, ultimately outscoring the back-to-back world champions and runaway winners of the Rugby Championship by five tries to four, and thus end their world record 18-match sequence of test wins.

It was a very complete performance, as it had to be.

As ever, the lines in the sand were drawn up front in the setpieces and at the breakdown. Fittingly, it started with the foot soldiers, the work-rate of the tight five - the tireless Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan and Devin Toner - was immense. The scrum was superb, and their line-out outperformed New Zealand’s. Best’s decision-making, in tandem with Johnny Sexton and the other team leaders, was superb.

Despite conceding four tries as the All Blacks threatened another of their damned comebacks, there was superb discipline in defence. CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip had huge games, as did Josh van der Flier, who was Ireland’s leading tackler despite only being on the pitch from the 26th minute.

There was none bigger than Conor Murray, who bestrode the game peerlessly. Sexton was Sexton, and Robbie Henshaw overcame an early error to have a stupendously muscular game. Rob Kearney and Simon Zebo were magnificent in the air, and though living off slim rations, Andrew Trimble made his presence felt as he does.

After the Cubs had ended their 108 year drought on Wednesday, there was something in the Chicago air.

The pre-match pageantry was different too. After a minute’s applause in memory of Anthony Foley and then the New Zealand anthem, the New York-based Irish violinist Gregory Harrington performed a solo rendition of Ireland’s Call which made for one of the better versions overseas.

Cue a slow, extended version of the haka to which Ireland’s players lined up in the figure of eight as a further tribute to the 62-times capped former Irish number eight.

With over half the pitch shaded from the brilliant sunshine which graced Chicago all day long, Ireland were helped into the game by the All Blacks’ early indiscipline, which enabled the Irish line-out to provide a solid platform of possession.

Having kicked off, and launched Henshaw up the middle from the first line-out, Aaron Smith came in from the side and Sexton went up the line from about 45 metres out. When Joe Moody was penalised for not rolling away off the ensuing drive, Sexton accepted the easier kick to open the scoring.

Within a minute though, the All Blacks ruthlessly punished a defensive misread by Robbie Henshaw when he shot up and Waisake Naholo stepped inside him on halfway to break clear and then beat Rob Kearney. He was collared by Simon Zebo, but Stander couldn’t hold onto Naholo’s offload, the ball bouncing luckily off Kieran Read’s face over the try-line for George Moala to dive on the loose ball. Beauden Barrett, as is his wont, missed an eminently kickable conversion though.

But when Moody was then binned for a tip tackle on Henshaw, Ireland made hay. After a huge maul, which must have rumbled remorselessly for more than 20 metres, earned a penalty, Ireland went to the corner against the seven-man New Zealand pack.

They were rumbling diagonally toward the touchline by the corner flag when Best twisted to stay infield and Murphy joined the maul to take the ball and, helped by Jack McGrath claim the try. After lengthy recourse once more to the TMO, Mathieu Raynal awarded the try.

The All Blacks compounded an overthrow when Liam Squire was penalised for a high tackle (making the penalty count 5-1) and Sexton, from inside half-way, extracted every inch from his penalty up the line to find touch seven metres out.

Murphy extended himself to do just enough to claim Best’s slightly overcooked throw, and a couple of phases later across the pitch Kearney took a superb inside line off Sexton’s short pass and also beat Aaron Smith’s tackle before Read did just enough to bring him down. Even so, Stander calmly stood over the ball, picked it up and took Kaino’s low tackle to go even lower and burrow over.

Barrett trimmed the lead to 15-8 after Murphy’s fumble was compounded by Murray going offside, but Sexton restored it to 18-8 in punishing Dane Coles’ lazy run. “Back to a ten point lead for the Irish Rugby Football Union,” declared the US TV commentator.

Henshaw then executed a choke tackle on Kaino, helped by Stander and Best, earned a turnover and the first scrum of the match, which was rock solid. But after an extended stoppage, the unfortunate Murphy was stretchered off with what appeared a bad injury to his left knee.

Another Dane Coles overthrow contributed to Ireland having 72 per cent of the possession in the first half-hour, and in the 34th minute they struck again. Barrett failed to gather Sexton’s up-and-under, and Murray then grabbed Read’s tap back to win possession. A couple of phases later, he dummied at the base, Aaron Smith bought it, and he sauntered in from 20 metres out for Sexton to make it 25-8.

Ireland even finished the half the stronger, Kearney grateful to the cavalry to arrive in helping to heave Julian Savea over the touchline.

From Murray’s box kick, Stander poached for a fantastic turnover, and from Murray’s kick ahead, Tadhg Furlong was third man up to tackle Ben Smith. Typical of Ireland’s work-rate, Furlong and McGrath then executed a choke tackle on Kaino, for the Irish scrum to sign off the half and Sexton to kick the ball dead with a 25-8 interval lead. Shades of the 19-0 lead at the Aviva three seasons ago after 18 minutes, the memory of which ensured no Irish supporter in Soldier Field or those watching on TV were even thinking of counting a single chicken.

The second half began with New Zealand attempting to get their attacking game going, but Patrick Tuipulotu fumbled and after Henshaw made a big hit on Squire, Aaron Smith’s wayward pass eluded Barritt and Sexton made the follow up tackle on Ben Smith whereupon Read went off his feet. Smith was promptly replaced by TH Peremnara.

Moody was a little unlucky to be penalised for a high tackle on Rob Kearney, but even so Sexton’s long touchfinder again earned a line-out five metres out. The drive was eventually held up as Squire brought Best down, but sucked in enough defenders for Murray and Sexton to go back to the blindside for Zebo to score in the corner. Ireland led 30-8 entering the last half-hour.

After Sexton’s kick out on the full, the All Blacks finally awoke. Dane Coles, naturally, was the catalyst with his phenomenal ball-playing skills that could just as easily accommodate ‘12’ on his back as opposed to ‘2’; offloading out of Heaslip’s tackle for Perenara to gather one-handed and score.

Barrett converted and then, seemingly corralled by three tackles, manufactured an under-arm, one-handed offload for Ben Smith to score adroitly by the corner flag. Barrett even nailed the touchline conversion.

When Read was penalised for obstruction from the ensuing restart, and with Sexton cramping, Murray’s penalty made it 33-22. Even so Scott Barrett, brother of Beauden and making his debut off the bench, took Squire’s no-look pass to beat Toner, and then Kearney, for a try. His brother’s conversion made it 33-29.

It was at this point that Ireland held firm when many would have expected the All Blacks to complete another of their comebacks. Charlie Faumuina knocked on, and Andrew Trimble made a massive hit on Squire to force a turnover, the impact of which was huge on the game’s psychic energy.

The vast majority of the crowd were clad in green and stood as one in applauding their team as Murray fed the ensuing scrum. When Ireland attacked wide, Zebo put in a perfectly weighted kick behind, and Murray made the follow up tackle on Savea to force him into touch in goal with help from Trimble.

The win was effectively secured off the ensuing scrum when Jamie Heaslip ran diagonally infield off the base and slipped a reverse pass to Henshaw, who used his strength to take two tackles for a fine finish. Joey Carbery’s conversion made it 40-29, and Ireland could even afford a missed penalty by their debutant out-half.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins Sexton pen 3-0; 4 mins Moala try 3-5; 10 mins Murphy try, Sexton con 10-5; 17 mins Stander try 15-5; 21 mins Barrett pen 15-8; 23 mins Sexton pen 18-8; 34 mins Murray try, Sexton con 25-8; (half-time 25-8); 49 mins Zebo try 25-8; 52 mins Perenara try, Barrett con 30-15; 57 mins B Smith try, Barrett con 30-22; 59 mins Murray pen 33-22; 64 mins S Barrett try, B Barrett con 30-29;76 mins Henshaw try, Carbery con 40-29.</s>The dust is now beginning to settle on Ireland’s win over the All Blacks on Saturday night. It did really happen, it wasn’t just a dream, and 111-years of hurt are finally over.

And so, what better way to brighten up Monday than by reliving the whole match over again? Whether you were able to watch it live or are still yet to see the battle of Soldier Field, you can see view full 80 minutes here.

This should keep you going until the inevitable release of the match on DVD - which will undoubtedly be filling stockings across the country next month.</s>Ireland have hailed their historic maiden victory over New Zealand as a triumph not just 111 years in the making - but also as tribute to Anthony Foley.

Ireland thumped the back-to-back world champions - who were on a record 18-match winning streak - 40-29 at Chicago's Soldier Field on Saturday, to claim their first success over the All Blacks at the 29th attempt.

Captain Rory Best paid tribute to all the Ireland skippers before him who had thrown everything at beating New Zealand to no avail.

READ MORE: Historic first win for Ireland over All Blacks

But both the Ulster hooker and head coach Joe Schmidt took the time to admit Ireland's win was inspired by Munster head coach Foley, who died aged 42 last month.

The Munster players formed a figure eight when facing New Zealand's Haka before kick-off, in tribute to Foley's playing number, and promptly channelled the indefatigable former Ireland captain.

"I think it was something that we just talked about through the management to the players," said Best of the touching tribute to Foley.

"I think a lot's been made of the really sad news that Munster got a few weeks ago and this was the national team's first time together since his passing. So we felt that it was the right thing to do and then to put the Munster body to the front that.

"It just felt like the right thing to do and it was our way, as an Irish national team, just to show a mark of respect to Axel (Foley) and his family."

Foley won 63 caps for Ireland as a barnstorming but also tactically shrewd number eight. He also helped mastermind Munster's rise to the top of the European tree, as the Thomond Park province claimed two Heineken Cup titles.

The 42-year-old died on October 16, before Munster's Champions Cup clash with Racing 92 in Paris.

Munster later dispatched Glasgow 38-17 the day after Foley's funeral .

If that proved Munster's on-field testament to their former totem, so too was Ireland's first win over New Zealand an homage to one of the country's great servants.

Ireland ended their 111-year wait for a win over New Zealand in style, Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Robbie Henshaw all grabbing tries at Soldier Field.

Just three days after the Chicago Cubs ended their 108-year wait for a World Series victory, Ireland harnessed a city bearing untold omens to end their own haunting hoodoo.

Ireland's class of 2016 assured their place in the history books, with Best aware of his personal accolades as captain - but more concerned with honouring the late Foley.

"Obviously, there was a lot of emotion and the Munster boys got a lot from that," said Best.

"It was just an emotionally charged day for us. Ultimately, we did a lot of our work earlier in the week so we could draw on a bit of that emotion.

"You've got to take a moment every time you make history.

"It's quite hard to sit here and talk about what's a massive thing for us.

"It's a massive mark of the respect to the All Blacks that beating them means so much to us because they are such a quality side and they've shown it.

"There's been a lot of great teams and great players that have got really close but just haven't been able to finish it.

"When they came back to a four-point game, we had the wherewithal to keep attacking them, that was great.

"We're a tight group, we're very well coached and that showed today."

For Kiwi native Schmidt, this is a victory to further confirm his place as Ireland's greatest coach of all time.

While hailing the tributes to Foley, Schmidt also admitted Ireland must quickly refocus - with New Zealand to face yet again, in Dublin on November 19.

"I really thought the players did themselves proud, but to be fair they did Axel proud and his family, and they did their country proud," said Schmidt.

"I actually said something inadvertently during the week like 'If you win here I don't really care too much about what you do for the rest of the series'. So I've put my foot in it there!

"There's an alcohol ban for the players on the flight home, but that will probably be lifted as soon as the boys sit down."

Jordi Murphy looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a knee ligament problem, while New Zealand's Ryan Crotty tore his hamstring, and centre George Moala suffered a serious elbow injury.

All three are unlikely to feature again across the autumn internationals.

New Zealand boss Steve Hansen hailed Ireland's victory, admitting the All Blacks had got out of jail in the last-gasp 24-22 win in Dublin in 2013.

"Inevitably it's going to happen, it's sport," said Hansen of the end of New Zealand's record winning streak.

"We've got to make sure the loss isn't wasted, we've got to make sure it takes us somewhere where we get better.

"It was going to happen sooner or later. They deserved to win in 2013, and they deserved it here."
In rugby union, Ireland defeat New Zealand 40–29 in Chicago. The win is Ireland's first ever over the All Blacks in 29 matches and 111 years, and also ends the All Blacks' record-setting Test match winning streak at 18.