All Blacks escape playing with 12 men after officiating blunder

The All Blacks escaped playing against Ireland with just 12 men for about 5 minutes after the officials and Irish management missed an opportunity in the 30th minute of the game.

Tighthead prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi was yellow-carded in the 24th minute following an early tackle/cynical play deep in the All Black 22 when he took out Garry Ringrose.

Replacement Angus Ta'avao came on to cover the tighthead position with Dalton Papali'i the man removed, New Zealand down to 14.

Not long after that and Jaco Peyper was brought in for another vital decision when Ta'avao got himself in a poor position to make a tackle as Ringrose stepped inside and both players thundered into each other in a nasty head-on-head collision.

The All Blacks are now down to 13 men after 30 minutes and Bundee Aki replacing Garry Ringrose, who went off for an HIA.

Ireland kicked to touch twice and didn't opt for to scrum which would have forced the All Blacks to lose a further man according to World Rugby Laws around uncontested scrums.

When there is a scrum the Irish players and officials failed to highlight and enforce this law. During the Six Nations, Italy were punished by the same law and were forced to play with 13 men after Faiva was red-carded against Ireland.

The same situation could have occurred on Saturday.

All Blacks down to 12 players. pic.twitter.com/UIJx6rg6iM

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 9, 2022

In the 32nd minute, Ardie Savea is removed from the game in order to bring Aidan Ross onto the field. This is to field (where possible) three front-rowers and 8 forwards at the uncontested scrum. 

A few minutes later Ofa Tu'ungafasi returns from his yellow card with Ardie Savea and the officials instruct Savea to stay off as he was the replacement player for the red card which according to laws was also incorrect as Dalton Papali'i was the player who should have stayed off.

Shambles all round with New Zealand not conceding a try despite an Irish scrum feed deep in the All Black 22 and then losing arguably their best player as Ardie Savea sits the rest of the game out.

Ireland took no points from the yellow and red card periods in the first half.

In the end, the blunder had little impact on the final results as Ireland still managed to close the game out on top, claiming their first ever victory over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.