Rugby

Sporting hits of 2021: James Lowe comes of age as Ireland smash the All Blacks

Winger’s late tackle on Rieko Ioane a defining moment in win over his native nation

James Lowe’s late tackle on Rieko Ioane proved decisive as Ireland beat the All Blacks. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Philip Reid's face
Philip Reid
Fri Dec 31 2021 - 08:00

Autumn Tests - Ireland 29 New Zealand 20, Aviva Stadium, November 13th

James Lowe was a man on a mission.

Before it all started, he listened to his country’s national anthem and then stood to face the Haka performed with synchronised precision on the Lansdowne Road turf by an All Blacks team he’d once dreamed about playing for as a young boy growing up in New Zealand.

Yet, on this November evening, Lowe came of age as an Irish winger. And not just as a try scorer, but as a tackler too.

Lowe’s DNA was all over Ireland’s 29-20 win.

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Firstly, Lowe did what he does best, diving with the ball stuck to his outreached palm to ground for a try in the corner inside 15 minutes.

Later, and critically, he did what people didn’t expect him to do.

James Lowe celebrates Ireland’s win over his native New Zealand. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

In the 72nd minute, with Ireland leading by three points and the All Blacks chasing the game with purpose, Lowe eyed up Rieko Ioane on the halfway line and made a tackle for the ages. Tadhg Beirne and Garry Ringrose applauded the tackler and Peter O’Mahony - who completed the job with a turnover - did a gig of delight, his knees jumping up to his chest before slamming his boots back down onto the grassy sod.

A capacity crowd rocked the stadium and while Joey Carbery’s long range penalty sealed the win and New Zealand’s fate, there was a fitting conclusion to it all as Lowe’s left boot kicked the ball off the pitch into the Havelock Square end to wild roars from the crowd and to applause from Jonny Sexton, by then confined to a watching role in the stands.

Lowe’s use of language post-match only served to underscore what the occasion meant. And it wasn’t the try he focused on, but the tackle.

“You bollocks’ always talk about my D,” said Lowe in a television interview referring to his defence, “and I got up and whacked Reiko and we got a turnover from it. I don’t care about that first try. I don’t care about anything (else), it was a moment (in the 72nd minute) to be able to read, do everything I’ve been doing for the last six or seven months, to produce (the tackle) against the best team in the world, that’s what I’m happy about.”