Christmas has come early

THERE IS something about the All Black jersey that immediately catches your attention.

It represents a rich culture and heritage, the hopes and sporting ambitions of a nation. The New Zealand rugby union recognise this fact also. Tell me another jersey in modern sport that has never been defaced by a sponsor’s logo across the chest. Over the next week Irish fans, and Munster fans in particular, have the chance to see the finest exponents of the game up close and personal not once, but twice. For the true followers of the game, Christmas has arrived a month early this year.

On this tour, New Zealand travel as slightly damaged goods on the back of their failure to win last year’s World Cup. Graham Henry planned meticulously for that global tournament from two years out but on an incredible night in Cardiff, of all places, the Kiwis came a cropper against a French side almost liberated away from the pressure of performing on home soil.