An hour after the embarrassing defeat by New Zealand, Ireland were still in a state of shock. Players shook their heads in disbelief as they wandered through the tunnel under Croke Park. Rarely can eve-of-battle optimism have evaporated quite so swiftly.

New Zealand, whose grand-slam hopes look increasingly certain of being realised, toyed with their opponents almost at will. Wales and England should start to worry because the All Blacks are easing into their stride and somebody will cop a hiding soon.

“I don't think anyone could be satisfied with that performance,” Tomas O'Leary, the scrum half, said. “We didn't play any rugby. I definitely expected more from us - we're capable of much better. But it's no good talking about how good we are or about potential. We need to produce.”

Among those who will want to erase swiftly memories of the match on Saturday will be Ronan O'Gara. The fly half cut the sorriest of figures. O'Gara has often been a match-winner for his country, but when put under real pressure he, and as a result Ireland, seize up. New Zealand's game plan hinged around denying O'Gara space and it worked a treat from the first minute, when the fly half was charged down by Jimmy Cowan - an error from which he never recovered, apart from one long penalty, which constituted his country's only points.

O'Gara was fretful, his kicking from hand erratic, too short and too often. It was clear that Ireland wanted to try to turn Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu. The execution of the plan was poor and ineffective. Repeatedly kicks landed in the laps of the wings or that of Mils Muliaina, the full back, and off New Zealand would set once more. The harder O'Gara tried, the more flustered he became.

The All Blacks lived off their lineout and breakdown work to dominate possession and territory, although the ensuing advantages were not always maximised and once again some sloppy moments let them down to the frustration of Graham Henry, the coach.

However, without being totally fluent, New Zealand's command of the basic skills, which they make look so effortless, was more than Ireland could cope with. With the game effectively over after 50 minutes, Croke Park fell eerily silent.

New Zealand demonstrated again how quickly they can scent a weakness, to wit their second try soon after half-time. With Paul O'Connell limping from a dead leg that ended his match on the hour, the All Blacks switched an attack between Ma'a Nonu and Rokocoko that exposed the isolated lock dreadfully in the wide channels. Nonu took advantage to score, putting the gloss on a fine performance from the inside centre - his deft little grubber-kick also led to New Zealand's first try before half-time. The kick was palmed away by Tommy Bowe - deliberately according to Mark Lawrence, the referee - denying Richie McCaw the touchdown. Lawrence was correct in exercising the letter of the law. A penalty try was awarded and Bowe was sent to the sin-bin, as was Tony Woodcock after half-time for punching, and instead of being level 3-3 at the interval, New Zealand had their noses in front.

What spring was left in Ireland's step after their first-half endeavours disappeared. They defended too narrowly for New Zealand's third try, a defect spotted by Rokocoko, who sent out a long miss-pass on to which Brad Thorn burst. The margin of victory could easily have been greater. Ali Williams was ruled by the television match official to have been held up by Rob Kearney over the line, while Sivivatu was called back for a forward pass that only Lawrence had seen.

Scorers: Ireland: Penalty goal: O'Gara (37min).

New Zealand: Tries: Penalty try (39), Nonu (46), Thorn (52). Conversions: Carter 2. Penalty goal: Carter (25).

Scoring sequence: (Ireland first): 0-3, 3-3, 3-10 (half-time), 3-17, 3-22.

Ireland: G Dempsey (rep: K Earls, 70); T Bowe (sin-bin, 37-50), B O'Driscoll, L Fitzgerald (rep: PWallace, 76), R Kearney; R O'Gara, T O'Leary (rep: E Reddan, 67); M Horan, R Best (rep: J Flannery, 57), J Hayes (rep: A Buckley, 76), D O'Callaghan, PO'Connell (rep: S Ferris, 61), A Quinlan, D Wallace (rep: S Jennings, 76), J Heaslip.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; J Rokocoko (rep: SDonald, 75), C Smith (rep: I Toeava, 63), M Nonu, SSivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan (rep: P Weepu, 60); A Woodcock (sin-bin, 42-53; rep: Tialata, 67), KMealamu (rep: C Flynn, 65), N Tialata, B Thorn, AWilliams, J Kaino (rep: J Afoa, 44), R McCaw, RSo'oialo (rep: K Read, 71).

Referee: M Lawrence (South Africa).

Attendance: 77,500.