Another fine display from Ireland was not enough to give them their first ever win over New Zealand and, after a 20 minute second half blitz of four tries, the home side were undone 40-29 at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.
Chris Jack, in the first-half, Reuben Thorne, Doug Howlett, Aaron Mauger, Jonah Lomu and Dave Hewett were the All Black try scoring heroes while five point replies from Kevin Maggs, Denis Hickie and the excellent Eric Miller were not enough for a historic win.
Warren Gatland can be proud of his troops, who just one minute into the second-half led the game 21-7 but his ex-Waikato colleague and new New Zealand coach John Mitchell can take a lot of satisfaction from his first game and first win in charge.
The All Blacks forward, once they had shaken off their early lethargy were simply irresitable and apart from 60 seconds after half-time anything but a win for the tourists, their 14th over Ireland, would have been a travesty.
The Irish began the game well and Humphreys confidently knocked over his first penalty from fully 43 metres after only three minutes.
New Zealand, looking a little rusty after two and a half months of inactivity, looked dangerous in the early stages especially Byron Kelleher, who was putting a lot of pressure on Humphreys in the pocket.
However the home side deservedly took the lead after 13 minutes.
Inevitably it was the genius of O'Driscoll, who cut open the All Blacks defence around half-way. The ball was recycled out by Stringer to Humphreys. The Ulster outside-half scythed through some non-existent All Black defence before spotting Maggs on his shoulder.
The powerful Bath centre evaded a last-gasp Umaga tackle to go under the post and Humphreys easily tapped over the conversion.
Five minutes later a wonderful Humphreys drop goal 10 metres outside the 22 put 13 points between the sides and John Mitchell's All Blacks were well and truly rattled.
Midway through the opening period, Ireland should have gone further ahead.
A somewhat cumbersome looking Jonah Lomu was well tackled within his own 22. Ireland won the ball and a fine Shane Horgan break drew in the defence for David Wallace.
The Irish Lion went for glory with at least four attackers in support, and his over delayed attempted pass was accidentally knocked on by Norm Maxwell and with it a gilt edged opportunity was lost.
The Irish were left to rue that missed opportunity, when after a period of concerted All Black pressure the All Blacks' big 6ft 7in Canterbury lock Jack went over the whitewash for his second try for his country.
Five minutes before half-time, the New Zealand forwards set up a series of phases of rucks. The Irish defence stood firm but it was left to the giant Jack to pick up the ball and stretch over Peter Stringer to touch down for the All Blacks first try of the game.
Then, another monster Humphreys penalty just before half-time put two scores between the two teams and a 16-7 lead at the break.
Whatever Irish coach Gatland said to his team had the interval worked immediately, when the Irish came out fired up and with all their guns blazing.
Two New Zealand players were penalised for crossing just outside their own 22 and from the resulting scrum O'Driscoll got on the ball once more.
The Dubliner tried to go for the line himself but was fortunate to have Hickie in support. The Leinster wing bounced All Blacks full-back Leon MacDonald backwards and went down in the corner for Ireland's second try. Humphreys missed a difficult conversion from the near touchline to leave the score 21-7 in the home side's favour.
The All Blacks hit back instantly after MacDonald, slotting in well in the absence of Chris Cullen's, was half stopped inside the Ireland 22. He was able to get the ball out to his No.8 Scott Robertson and the Canterbury back row held off another couple of defenders before right wing Howlett crashed over under Hickie's last ditch challenge. Mehrtens missed conversion meant Ireland were still two points to the good with half hour still to play.
Moments later Humphreys extended the Irish lead for the final time following a perfect drop goal from 34 metres, 24-19.
However by this time the All Blacks were looking likely to break through every time and seemed certain to open the floodgates.
After 56 minutes Lomu, who worringly for the Irish was getting more and more into the game as an injured Horgan ceased up, gathered possession and passed to Canterbury captain Mauger. The 20-year-old had to work hard to break three tackles and touch down. Mehrtens this time made no mistake from the conversion.
Six minutes later, after a line-out was won deep inside the Irish 22, it was no surprise when Lomu went under the Irish posts unopposed for his third try against the men in green.
The ball was span cross from Kelleher and Mauger fed Lomu. The Wellington wing was coming in at a great angle and steamed in easily.
The big man after scoring New Zealand's fourth try of the game was involved again for the fifth just after the hour mark.
He crashed through a couple of tackles but was held up inches short of the try line. From the ruck a clever Kelleher pass inside put the replacement Dave Hewett, on for Greg Feek, in for another debut try to seal the game with the All Blacks 40-24 ahead.
A last minute try from the unsung Leinster blindside Miller, crashing down after a line-out and rolling maul were won, was mere consolation for another brave but ultimately unsuccessful Irish display.
Man of the match: Richard McCaw. Phew! What a debut from the 20-year-old Canterbury openside flanker. McCaw was everywhere through much of the 80 minutes belying his lack of experience at international level. He gave David Wallace a torrid time throughout and his strong running and ball winning skills gave confidence for a fightback when New Zealand were stuttering in the first half.
Moment of the Match: David Wallace glorious try scoring opportunity midway through the opening period with Ireland 13-0 ahead and the All Blacks rocking. A Lomu mistake was picked up and opposite number Horgan drove at the New Zealand defence. He passed to the Irish Lion who went for glory. Four Irishmen were inside of the Munster openside but he elected to hold on. He over delayed a pass which was accidentally knocked on and with a chance lost to put at least 20 points between the two teams.
Villain of the Match: It would be harsh to pinpoint anyone as a villain at the end of a thrilling Test match. We all understood why Wallace tried to score himself with support in abundance in the first half but after the break the tourists were simply irresistible and fully deserved the plaudits at the end of the near perfect advertisement for the breathtaking excitement of glorious international rugby.
The Teams:
New Zealand: 1 Greg Somerville, 2 Anton Oliver (c), 3 Greg Feek, 4 Chris Jack, 5 Norm Maxwell, 6 Richard McCaw, 7 Reuben Thorne, 8 Scott Robertson, 9 Byron Kelleher, 10 Andrew Mehrtens, 11 Doug Howlett, 12 Aaron Mauger, 13 Tana Umaga, 14 Jonah Lomu, 15 Leon MacDonald
Reserves: David Hewett
Unused: Ben Blair, Marty Holah, Dion Waller, Tom Willis, Caleb Ralph, Mark Robinson
Ireland: 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Keith Wood (c), 3 John Hayes, 4 Mick Galwey, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 6 Eric Miller, 7 David Wallace, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 David Humphreys, 11 Denis Hickie, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Shane Horgan, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Gary Longwell, Mike Mullins, Emmet Byrne
Unused: Kieron Dawson, Guy Easterby, Ronan O'Gara, Frankie Sheahan
Attendance: 49000
Referee: Watson a.
Points Scorers:
New Zealand
Tries: Hewett D.N. 1, Howlett D.C. 1, Jack C.R. 1, Mauger A.J.D. 1, Lomu J.T. 1, Thorne R.D. 1
Conv: Mehrtens A.P. 5
Ireland
Tries: Hickie D.A. 1, Miller E.R.P. 1, Maggs K.M. 1
Conv: Humphreys D.G. 1
Pen K.: Humphreys D.G. 2
Drop G.: Humphreys D.G. 2
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