Mood of country not all black — thanks lads

What a game! Yes we were beaten, but it was a narrow victory by what some suggest is the greatest rugby team the world has seen.

There are people who will say that there is no honour in defeat. Nonsense; Ireland gave us 80 minutes of top-class entertainment which almost denied the All-Blacks their historic win.

There were many naysayers before the game who were hoping we could hold New Zealand to a non-embarrassing margin. Ireland, with Joe Schmidt at the helm had other plans. They had the unshakeable self-belief.