New Zealand will improve, but so will Joe’s Ireland

With the much anticipated New Zealand test looming large in the background, the opening international of the November Guinness Series always had a bit of a matinee feel to it, the prelude to the main event.

Despite a fan-friendly 6.30pm kick off, the atmosphere was less than hostile when Nicholas Sanchez landed his kick off deep into Ireland’s 22.

A few hours earlier, Twickenham bristled as the strains of Sweet Chariot conspired to drown out TJ Perenara as he led the All Blacks in a passionate rendition of the players’ favourite version of the Haka, the Kapa O’pango.