New Zealand's coach John Mitchell admitted his side were fortunate to keep their 97-year unbeaten record against Ireland intact in their opening Test in Dunedin.

The All Blacks were rattled and needed a late try from Leon McDonald to secure a 15-6 win on Saturday evening, giving Mitchell his fifth successive win since taking over.

New Zealand, who started with 13 players from the Crusaders side who won every match in this season's Super 12 campaign, were grateful for a Doug Howlett try which gave them a 10-3 lead at half-time, but an expected points deluge never materialised and with a little luck Ireland might have enjoyed a first-ever win.

"It can be awful as a coach sometimes when it doesn't go to plan and it certainly didn't go to plan," said Mitchell.

Brian O'Driscoll put the visitors in front with a snap drop goal, but Andrew Mehrtens pulled the All Blacks level with his first penalty chance and then helped set up Howlett just before half-time. Mehrtens landed the conversion.

Ronan O'Gara finally found his range with a penalty from 20 yards but the All Blacks replacement Jonah Lomu soon came into his own, allowing MacDonald space to get over in the corner. "We will be better for this and, yes, we were lucky. But let's give Ireland some credit. They played well," Mitchell added.

· New Zealand's centre Mark Robinson and lock Simon Maling have been recalled for Saturday's second Test.

New Zealand: MacDonald; Howlett (Lomu, 68), Umaga, A Mauger, Ralph; Mehrtens, Marshall; Hewett (McDonnell, 64), Hammett, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Robertson.

Tries: Howlett, MacDonald. Conversions: Mehrtens. Penalties: Mehrtens.

Ireland: Dempsey; Murphy, B O'Driscoll, Kelly, Bishop; O'Gara (Humphreys, 70), Stringer; Corrigan, Wood, Hayes, O'Connell, Longwell (O'Kelly, 59), S Easterby, Gleeson, Foley.

Penalty: O'Gara. Drop goal: B O'Driscoll.

Referee: J Jutge (France).

Attendance: 43,000