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New Zealand rallies with three late tries to beat Ireland 26-13 at Soldier Field
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New Zealand's Leicester Fainga'anuku, centre, celebrates with teammate Peter Lakai, left, after their team's first try during the rugby international between the All Blacks and Ireland in Chicago, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. - photo by AP Photo/Erin Hooley
CHICAGO (AP) — Tries in the last quarter by Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi and Cam Roigard carried New Zealand to a 26-13 win Saturday over a combative Ireland in front of 65,000 mostly Irish fans at Chicago's Soldier Field. New Zealand struggled for much of the match against Ireland's physical rush defense and disruptive play at set pieces and Ireland headed into the final quarter with a 13-7 lead. The All Blacks opened up the Ireland defense twice in five minutes, in the 61st and 66th minutes, first with a try to Williams from a tapped penalty, then through Sititi after a deft combination between playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.