Rokocoko spares All Blacks

Rokocoko: Saved New Zealand in the closing minutes

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Only a late, late try from Joe Rokocoko spared New Zealand's blushes as they squeezed past Munster 18-16 at Thormond Park.

The winger crossed just three minutes from time to deny the home side a repeat of their famous 1978 win over the mighty All Blacks.

The Magners League outfit had led 16-10 at half time and then 16-13 in the closing stages despite being without 10 first-team regulars.

However, Rokocoko - the only surviving member from the New Zealand starting XV that beat Ireland on Saturday - saved the day for Graham Henry.

Relieved

The All Blacks coach may not have had to worry so much had Stephen Donald not endured a miserable night with the boot.

His four second-half place kicks that failed to go between the posts kept a pulsating match firmly in the balance in front of a raucous 26,000 crowd.

Donald did manage to slot over his first penalty attempt to level matters at 3-3 after Paul Warwick had opened the scoring just seconds before.

As the opening half wore on Munster began to sense something special could happen, a second penalty and a drop goal from Warwick pushing them six clear.

But just as they were on the front foot they conceded a needless try, a costly turnover resulting in Donald diving in under the posts to leave himself an easy conversion.

At that stage it seemed New Zealand would simply move through the gears and run away with it. Instead by the break they found themselves trailing again.

Murphy magic

James Coughlan broke free from a five-metre scrum and fed Peter Stringer who managed to send Barry Murphy over on the right.

Warwick's conversion gave the hosts a healthy cushion and thanks to some sterling work in defence, mixed in with some wayward kicking from Donald, who missed two of his three penalties, the shock looked very much on.

Henry, though, had the option of calling on a star-studded bench and it was replacement Mils Muliaina who sent Rokocoko scampering to the line.

The Fijian-born speedster ironically stepped past Doug Howlett - the man whose All Black try-scoring record he is chasing - to deny Munster right at the death and seal a second win on Irish soil in less than a week.