New Zealand 42-10 Ireland: We can’t dwell on mistakes, warns O’Mahony

Published on 11/06/2012 00:36

PETER O’Mahony has warned his Ireland team-mates they cannot afford to dwell on the mistakes they made in Saturday’s 42-10 defeat to New Zealand if they are to make it a closer contest next weekend.

Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Savea 3, Thomson, C. Smith. Cons: Carter 4. Pens: Carter 3. Ireland: Tries: McFadden. Cons: Sexton. Pens: Sexton.

Debutant winger Julian Savea scored a hat-trick for the All Blacks as Ireland had no answer for the pace and power of the world champions’ backline.

O’Mahony, 22, who made his first international start at blindside flanker, said: “We’re disappointed. The speed of the game was a lot quicker but we did ourselves no favours with the amount of turnovers we gave them. They are too good a team to be turning over ball to them that much.

“We don’t have enough time to keep our heads down or beat ourselves up about everything. We have another Test and another opportunity.”

Jamie Heaslip also admitted costly turnovers and the All Blacks’ impressive line speed were the deciding factors at Eden Park. He said: “The goal, the thing that everyone is chasing, is quick ball. Their forwards provided a great launching platform with quick ball. With Dan [Carter] pulling the strings, they have really good guys that can hit it up in the middle as well as really good finishers with outstanding pace.”

Ireland started with some exciting, running rugby but they were often pushed backward and spilled balls that the All Blacks pounced on.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw spoke about his side raising their level for next week’s meeting in Christchurch and head coach Steve Hansen reflected on “a couple of tries we blew”.

Heaslip added: “That is exactly why they are world champions, they set their standard like any other team.

“I’m sure Richie would be demanding more of their players like Brian [O’Driscoll], and the leaders of our team, would be demanding of our players.”

The No 8 is aware of the significance of this Saturday’s Test in Christchurch. It will be the first time the All Blacks have played in the city since it was struck by a series of devastating earthquakes in early 2011.

Heaslip said: “We had [former All Black] Brad Thorn with us at Leinster for the last couple of months and, as much as what we heard through the news, it was great to hear from someone who had been there.

“It is a home of rugby. From my experience, as a guy outside of New Zealand, you always hear about games being played at Christchurch.

“It is going to be an epic occasion. You are going to have two teams going hammer and tongs at it and, hopefully, it will be a nice game to watch.”