Dylan Cleaver: Luckless but brave Irish still chasing Holy Grail

Dan Brown has made a lot of money lately by flogging the theory that the Holy Grail was not a goblet but a bloodline that could be traced back to Christ.

But the Irish rugby fraternity, most of whom are deeply religious, have always known that the grail is neither - it is beating the All Blacks.

Last night, in rugby heartland, they came within nine minutes and a couple of poor options of finding it.

It was not to be though. Maybe it will never be. After all, 19 different afternoons and, more recently, nights spanning 101 years have ended similarly. The only thing that's changed is that the two teams find different ways of getting to the same conclusion. Last night threw up a novel twist. Ireland, so often full of Celtic fire and brimstone at the start before fading, instead started with their eyes closed.

By the time they'd finished blinking Mils Muliaina had broken the line and Doug Howlett had finished the job.

But this Irish team was a different beast from the clueless and clawless Lions of last year.

For a start their skipper, Brian O'Driscoll, was there until the end.

Soon he confirmed what many suspected - that among the many things Ma'a Nonu can do, reading a game defensively is not one of them.

O'Driscoll was immense.

This might not have been redemption - champions hate losing and take no solace in moral victories - but it was a reminder of how badly the Lions missed him.

He set up the second try and chipped and chased, harried and carried Ireland to the death.

Meanwhile the All Blacks looked mostly like a rabble; at other times they didn't even look that good.

In the wash-up though, they'll talk about their resolve and their composure under pressure, two things you cannot fault them on. What they won't mention so loudly is their luck - but they had that in spades, too, plucking intercepts from Irish hands when disaster was imminent and getting out of jail by the grace of referee Stuart Dickinson. Coach Graham Henry's methods, particularly around the selection table, have come under immense scrutiny. Today will be no different.

Because the rugby populace is divided fairly evenly as to whether Henry's make-everyone-an-All Black diktat is a) forward thinking; b) arrogance and/or egoism or c) a necessary evil.

The problem for those who believe the answer is b) is that he keeps on winning, delighting those in Camp a) and adding to the weary resignation of Camp c).

Last night Greg Rawlinson, a South African, and Clarke Dermody started their first tests, while the reserves were a real who's who - as in, who?

In the end it was a man from the bench who sealed the game. Former enfant terrible Troy Flavell crossed his line with his finger pointed to the gods in triumph.

The Irish must be wondering why those same gods never smile on them.