New Zealand came back from the brink of defeat to extend their unbeaten run against Ireland at Lansdowne Road with a 40-29 victory.

But brave Ireland - who led by 13 points at one stage - were left to rue Eric Miller's missed opportunity which allowed the All Blacks to recover.

Ireland's hopes of recording their first victory over the mighty All Blacks were lifted before kick-off when scrum-half Peter Stringer passed a late fitness test on his ankle.

It meant the home side were at full strength for their 15th meeting with New Zealand, from which they gleaned a solitary draw.

New All Blacks coach John Mitchell opted to leave the likes of Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson and Taine Randell out of his tour party altogether.

There was one familiar formidable obstacle in the presence of Jonah Lomu, but Ireland have match-winners of their own, with the outcome possibly to be decided by a thrilling battle of the outside centres Brian O'Driscoll and Tana Umaga.

Ireland had a lucky escape inside the first 30 seconds as Byron Kelleher charged down an attempted David Humphreys clearance kick.

With Anton Oliver steaming up on the loose ball, it bobbled into touch barely a foot from the home line.

But Humphreys had the first opportunity to put points on the board and duly stroked Ireland into the lead with a 40-metre penalty when the All Blacks had been penalised for collapsing a maul.

The Irish pack flew at their opponents, Eric Miller forcing the ball out of Richard McCaw's grasp with one big hit.

O'Driscoll won his first battle with Umaga when he danced past the Kiwi in midfield.

New Zealand went offside at the ruck. But with referee Andre Watson playing advantage Humphreys scorched straight through the All Blacks defence, found Kevin Maggs on his shoulder and the centre sped under the posts.

Humphreys converted, but Ireland were forced to defend almost immediately when Lomu barged his way into open space - Dempsey clinging on as his team-mates arrived to save the situation.

Humphreys edged Ireland further clear with a 30-metre drop-goal as the visitors' defence continued to be pulled apart.

Doug Howlett almost forced his way over in the corner and the Irish defence repelled a series of All Black power drives.

Just as it seemed the storm had been weathered, lock Chris Jack picked up from the base of a ruck, found himself with only Stringer to beat and though the little scrum-half did his best, Jack was able to reach over.

Mehrtens converted but Humphreys extend the Irish advantage just before half-time with a stoppage-time penalty.

At the beginning of the second half another defensive blunder gave the home side possession, and when O'Driscoll collected 20 metres out the All Blacks stood off in a state of collective panic.

By the time Tanu Umaga sensed the danger O'Driscoll was barely a metre from the line and he fed Denis Hickie, who crashed through Leon MacDonald and over for the second home try.

Humphreys failed to convert from the touchline and the visitors replied within a minute, Mehrtens creating the space which allowed Reuben Thorne to stroll over.

Mehrtens converted to bring his side back to within a converted try but failed to add the finishing touch after 49 minutes when MacDonald and Robertson combined to send Howlett in.

Humphreys kept his cool at the other end to land his second drop-goal, although at that stage Wood was on his knees after taking a bang in the tackle.

Emmet Byrne replaced John Hayes as the action grew ever more intense - and when Lomu took possession 20 metres out he drew the defence in and then released Mauger for the All Blacks' fourth try.

Mehrtens' conversion put the visitors in front for the first time, although O'Driscoll and Horgan broke across halfway to signal Irish hopes were still alive.

However, Ireland's attacking opportunities were markedly decreasing and as New Zealand's self-belief rose, so did the standard of their play.

Mauger was growing as a force and slipped a beautiful inside pass to Lomu 20 metres out, who suddenly found space and strode under the posts.

Dempsey prevented Lomu from barging in for another but all Ireland's best work was now being done in defence, Howlett denied a second score before replacement David Hewitt marked his debut by crashing home.

There was still time for Miller to grind his way over. But the game was gone, even if brave Irish hearts battled to the last.