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.