Irish fans will be familiar with the script that unfolded at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.Their team worked tirelessly for 80 minutes, but just as it looked as though they would find a way through the All Blacks defence, a hammer blow was struck at the other end. Normal service was resumed.N

Irish fans will be familiar with the script that unfolded at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.Their team worked tirelessly for 80 minutes, but just as it looked as though they would find a way through the All Blacks defence, a hammer blow was struck at the other end. Normal service was resumed.New Zealand were made to graft themselves for this win. Faced by a vociferous crowd, and a determined opponent, this victory will be remembered as much for the 144 tackles made by those wearing black as for the finesse added by fly-half Beauden Barrett.It was Barrett who picked off Ireland when the opportunity arose, with the timing of a champion boxer. He set up his teams first try and scored the second - naturally, he also had a hand in the third.But this was a performance built on resilience and character. The All Blacks lost a wealth of experience following the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the current incarnation are proving just as daunting an opponent in only their first year together.This could well become an important result in the evolution of a record-breaking side.Two weeks ago this team suffered their first loss, that created a bit of adversity, Coach Steve Hansen admitted after their Dublin win.Today was all about seeing how theyd stand up to that. So, to come out on top 21-9, three tries to none and defend for long periods of the game, I think they answered a lot of questions re their character.While it wasnt always pretty I think theres plenty for us to learn and get better on. To be at this point of the year, after losing 818 caps, youve got to be reasonably happy. Pretty good year so far.A pretty good year is obviously a sizeable understatement for a team who prior to stepping on the pitch in Chicago had set a new benchmark for consecutive Test wins.But it is telling that Hansen believes they can still get better.The All Blacks performance in Dublin was far from perfect. They conceded 66 percent possession and 69 percent territory, and the pressure that Ireland were able to exert was highlighted by the fact that they had to play a quarter of this match with 14 men as Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa saw yellow.But it is in adversity that the size of someones heart can be measured. We had to defend, All Blacks captain Kieran Read said.As Steve said the character of the men really showed up. The way we defended, we had to work bloody hard.After 15 minutes it had seemed that they wouldnt have to work all that hard. In defence anyway.The determination of those wearing green in the stands of the Aviva Stadium to witness yet more history was palpable. We are now used to seeing players running out amid the crescendo of fireworks, of course, but this seemed a little different.There was a collective will to ensure that the result in Chicago would not prove a one-off.?Unfortunately, for the majority of the 51,000 fans in attendance, there was an equally powerful assertion from the All Blacks that Ireland would not become only the second team in 10 years to secure back to back wins against them.After an early Irish surge, the crowd fell silent as Barrett drilled a cross-field kick into the grateful arms of Fekitoa to score the games opening try. Just over 10 minutes later, he had added a second himself following consultation with the TMO.There was consternation from the home support, but while Barretts try was still being debated as they departed into the night, the All Blacks first score was the beautiful result of some hard work on the training pitch.Our kicking game was better, Hansen said. Although it wasnt as great as wed like it to be.To win big Test matches, particularly against sides who are good defending sides, youve got to be able to kick the ball to space, youve got to be able to pass it there or run it there. Its as simple as that.?Simple it definitely wasnt but New Zealand have proven that any talk of their demise was greatly exaggerated. France will find out next weekend exactly how much they learned from this bruising Test match. Tom Rathman Super Bowl Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. 49ers Super Bowl Jerseys . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/laken-tomlinson-jersey-sales.html . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Jimmie Ward Super Bowl Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Terrell Owens Super Bowl Jersey . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. BALTIMORE (2-0) at JACKSONVILLE (0-2)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBSOPENING LINE -- Ravens by 1RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Baltimore 2-0, Jacksonville 0-2SERIES RECORD -- Jaguars lead 11-8LAST MEETING -- Jaguars beat Ravens 22-20, Nov. 15, 2015LAST WEEK -Ravens beat Browns 25-20; Chargers beat Jaguars 38-14AP PRO32 RANKING -- Ravens No. 11, Jaguars No. 29RAVENS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (20), RUSH (23), PASS (16).RAVENS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (2), RUSH (16), PASS (1).JAGUARS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (13), RUSH (30), PASS (5).JAGUARS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (12), RUSH (T26), PASS (8).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Rematch of last years game that featured botched ending. NFL acknowledged Jacksonville should have been penalized for not being set on play before winning field goal. Ravens LB Elvis Dumervil subsequently grabbed quarterback Blake Bortles facemask while making tackle, giving Jacksonville one more play with no time left. Jason Myers followed with 53-yard FG to give Jags 22-20 win. You know, I dont really ever forget that game, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. It doesnt have to be spurred. Thats always been kind of on my mind. ... Coming off second-biggest come-from-behind victory in franchise history, Ravens looking for third 3-0 start and first since 2009. ... Dennis Pitta is tied for most catches (12) by TE and ranks second in yards (141). Only Carolinas Greg Olsen has more. ....dddddddddddd Dumervil has five sacks in four career games against Jaguars. ... Ravens WRs Kamar Aiken and Breshad Perriman played at UCF with Bortles. ... WR Mike Wallace has all three of Baltimores TDs this season. ... Ravens DT Timmy Jernigan spent two years in Jacksonville as kid, so it is going to mean a lot to play there. ... Jaguars trying to avoid starting 0-3 for third time in four years. ... RB Chris Ivory expected to make season debut after missing first two games with general medical issue that required hospital stay. ... Jags hope to get WRs Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns on track after relatively quiet two games. ... Jaguars LT Kelvin Beachum (concussion) unlikely to play after spending night in San Diego hospital for observation. ... Bortles is 0-9 when throwing for at least 300 yards. ... Gus Bradley is 12-38 in four seasons, second-worst winning percentage in NFL history for anyone who has coached at least 50 games. Bert Bell (10-46) is only coach with worse career record, and he also was team owner. Fantasy Tip: Stick with Robinson, who is due to score. Third-year pro went consecutive games without TD just once in 2016.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '