Post-match comments: Henry, McCaw, O'Sullivan

The All Blacks beat Ireland 45-7 in Dublin this morning (NZT).

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said: "The boys played superbly. We thought we were going to have a hell of a game. We had one of those purple days."

However, he said he had been disappointed by an over-aggressive tackle by Ma'a Nonu. "We don't want these sorts of things happening in the game," he said. 

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said he thought the New Zealand lineout, which conceded two of its own throw-ins, had been a flaw. "We had Ireland on the ropes and rushed things."

But he, too, was full of praise for the team's efforts.

"This is a group of players who are putting their hands up," he said. "There is a real pride in what we are doing."

Subdued Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said New Zealand had dominated at the set piece. "The better team won and won well," he said. "They were a lot better than us."

- REUTERS