Damian McKenzie stars as tourists ease past Ireland 'A'

Shaun Stevenson scored two tries as the All Blacks XV comfortably beat Ireland ‘A’ 47-19 in an entertaining match at the RDS on Friday.

It was a result that saw the tourists cross seven times as Brodie McAlister, Ruben Love, Braydon Ennor, AJ Lam and Damian McKenzie also scored.

McKenzie added six conversions as Leon MacDonald’s men showed their class in possession in Dublin, with Ireland ‘A’ struggling with the visitors.

Ireland ‘A’s try-scorers were Ciaran Frawley, Marty Moore and Max Deegan, with Frawley and Jack Crowley slotting a conversion apiece on the night.

All Blacks XV dominated the game

Stevenson would open the scoring on 12 minutes after a perfectly weighted cross-kick from McKenzie found the wing, who beat Craig Casey in the air before racing over.  McKenzie would add the extras and the All Blacks XV had got the scoreboard moving.

The visitors would cross again on 21 minutes after opting to go for the corner, hooker McAlister finding his way to the try-line via the back of the maul.

Five minutes later they were over again, this time from a loose Irish lineout downfield as McKenzie raced clear before Love found Stevenson for 19-0.

Ireland ‘A’ did have something to cling to though going into the break as a lovely passage of handling led to Frawley crashing over just before half-time.

However, their joy was short-lived once the game restarted after the break when Stevenson turned provider for Love to make it 26-7 after 42 minutes.

Ennor would be the All Blacks XV’s next to cross the try-line 12 minutes later, but Ireland would hit back through replacement Moore from a metre out.

McKenzie picked up a deserved try

MacDonald’s side would regroup though and further scores from Lam and the impressive McKenzie on the 61st and 72nd minute took them 47-12 up.

Ireland ‘A’ did have the final say again before the whistle, however, as a moment of offloading magic from wing Calvin Nash led to back-row Deegan going over late on, with Crowley kicking the extra two points on a night that belonged to a slick All Blacks XV side.