Gaffney: We showed All Blacks too much respect

IN a part of the world where respecting tradition and heritage is imperative, Alan Gaffney yesterday said that Ireland have been guilty of paying too much respect to the host country. But he insisted that’s about to change.

Ireland tried to regroup yesterday and pick up the pieces after the unceremonious 66-28 thumping at the hands of the All Blacks at the weekend. With a short turnaround to Friday’s historic first meeting with the Maori here in Rotorua, the beating heartland of New Zealand’s indigenous people, time is not on their side.

‘‘It’s not always easy (to pick things up) after being dinged by so many points. You’ve always got to pay the opposition respect but you don’t have to pay them undue respect which I think is what we did,’’ the Ireland assistant coach argued.

‘‘In the meeting today we were really realistic about the fact that we created a lot of opportunities on the weekend. We’re equally realistic that we didn’t deserve to win the game. But we’ve got to look at it as though the glass was half full. And it is. The game is a game of small margins.’’

Ireland’s first taste of the new interpretations of the games laws was at times a bitter one as the All Blacks ran in nine tries but there was a sweet aftertaste for coach Declan Kidney and his team of lieutenants who saw that Ireland should be able to thrive under the new directives.

‘‘Well the players have seen that it’s better to keep the ball in hand,’’ said the backs coach. ‘‘With 14 men we decided to have a crack and we did and we were pretty good in the second half. So I think we now have more of an understanding that we do have to keep the ball in hand and we do have to attack the sides more.

‘‘We haven’t gone from being a very good side to being a poor side overnight. We’ve just got to understand the fact that we are a good side and back ourselves accordingly.’’

Gaffney drew comparisons between the make-up of the Maori squad and that of the Ireland crop that made it to Rotorua unscathed and fresh enough to take on the natives. Although whether Kidney can call on anyone of the calibre of Luke McAlister is debatable.

‘‘We’ve still been concentrating very much on what happened at the weekend but we will have a close look at the Maori today and we’re expecting a very, very strong team,’’ said Gaffney. ‘‘You look at their backs – (Stephen) Brett, McAllister – and in the forwards – (Tanerau) Latimer, Isaac Ross, Corey Flynn – they are a very, very strong team.

‘‘So it’s not as though they are guys put out to pasture. And mixing them with a lot of young boys will make it a very difficult game on the weekend. And it’s good because we’ll have the same mix-up, we’ll have a lot of experience with a lot of young boys and it’s going to be a great challenge for them.’’

Meanwhile Rhys Ruddock yesterday tried to shake off the effects of an unexpected 15-hour trek across the Pacific as he prepared himself to be pitched in at the deep end against the Maori.

The Ireland U20 captain was the surprise name drafted into the panel after the loss of back rowers Jamie Heaslip and John Muldoon for very differing reasons and flew in from Argentina yesterday to link up with his new team-mates.

Gaffney, who worked with the flanker at Leinster this past season, praised the 19-year-old, a son of former Wales coach Mike, for his maturity.

‘‘It’s a fantastic experience for Rhys.’’ he said. “I think he’s an exceptional player. He’s only played so many games in the Magners League but he’s shown a nice skill level and a high level of intensity. He’s probably got that from his father, he comes from pretty good stock. He’s a tough boy, a very, very skilful boy and has got all the attributes to make it in the professional game and at the highest level.’’

The player himself is just elated to be here.

‘‘This is an incredible honour for me and something I never expected,” he said. “I trained for the first time this afternoon and the welcome from the guys was great.’’