Williams plays down north-south divide

IT’S 13 years since the game of rugby union officially shed its amateur status and yet here we are still, in the middle of another raft of ‘autumn’ internationals, lamenting that lingering north-south divide.

It wasn’t meant to be like this. Professionalism was supposed to eradicate this class divide and, until this month, arguments could have been made to suggest that it was working.

Now this. New Zealand and Australia cantering over the finishing line while even the troubled Springboks have been able to forget about their internal problems long enough to squeeze out the Welsh and the Scots.

The score stands at 4-0 to the Tri-Nations in the latest round of tests with Wales still to face New Zealand and Australia and England booked in for appointments with South Africa and the All Blacks.

Few observers would be shocked if the home nations were to suffer a whitewash, which would be a difficult dose to swallow given, for example, Ireland’s recent victories over Australia and South Africa.

“There are differences in the game and, weather permitting, that is probably what dictates that more than anything,” said New Zealand’s man of the match in Croke Park, Ali Williams.

“It is the team on the day though. It would be pretty silly coming over here thinking you weren’t going to be beaten because I have played two pretty tricky games on the road now and I would say that there will be two more to come.”

Williams batted away suggestions that their dates in Cardiff and London would be of a higher calibre than Ireland, claiming to do so would be disrespectful of Declan Kidney’s side, but there is a kernel of truth in the claim.

Ireland had only the meaningless run-out against Canada to prepare for what was the new coach’s first real test against a Kiwi side that had played 15 times since June.

There were countless facets of the visitors’ game that impressed but one of the more glaring differences between the sides was the ease with which Graham Henry’s men moved the ball through their back line and around the home defences.

“I think you are underestimating the Irish there. They attacked very well. Maybe they didn’t use as much width as they wanted to but, as we saw during the week, some of their tries can come from anywhere. You guys are being a bit harsh on the northern hemisphere.”

Williams and his equally diplomatic colleagues have made the right noises all week. Ireland had been bigged up on a daily basis, five of them were pictured posing with hurleys and Croke Park was discussed in hushed tones.

The home team may have disappointed on the day but the home venue certainly lived up to the expectations of a travelling unit that has played in some of the most celebrated stadiums in the world.

“It was amazing. It was very passionate and very noisy. I mean, we couldn’t even hear ourselves think sometimes, especially at the lineouts. The crowd was getting on to me to call it but I just had to tell them, to relax.

“It was pretty special and you could see what it meant to the Irish crowd. We used that energy and projected it for our own personal reasons. It was definitely one of the better grounds I have played in.”

The most frightening aspect to Saturday’s game is what could have transpired if New Zealand were firing on every cylinder.

At times, they simply looked over eager and Williams’ fellow lock, Brad Thorn, attributed some of their mistakes to the fact that most of them were playing only their second test in two months. Yet, there were other factors too.

“I feared the Irish,” said Thorn. “I feared losing. There is a history there where we have played 21 times and never lost. That’s something, as players, that we fear. Teams will always want to knock you off but that is a good thing.”

Imperfect they may be but they carry on winning. They are mean too and know how to shut out a game, as is evidenced by their keeping the last three opponents scoreless in the second-halves.

“There is something special about this team,” said Thorn. “There is some real character. I remember watching (Sean) Fitzpatrick and the boys in the ‘90s and they used to win ugly. It has been a while since I have seen it. That has come out this year and it is great to be a part of it, to be in a team with that sort of character and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here.”