There are chinks in All Black armour
But this was not to be missed. As a New Zealander your DNA is programmed to enjoy the simple things — hokey-pokey ice cream, cold beer and hot pies to name a few — but nothing gives us quite as much pleasure as seeing Australia beaten.
So the prospect of Munster tipping over the Wallabies made the return trip from Dublin to Limerick a bit of a no-brainer. Who would have thought that 80 minutes of grinding, tryless, error-strewn rugby could be so beautiful?
But the journey back to Dublin also raised questions that are familiar, yet as perplexing as ever. Given Munster’s propensity for beating touring teams — apparently there was quite a famous game in Limerick towards the end of 1978 — why can’t Ireland beat the All Blacks?
Is it because Munster men take more pride in a red shirt than a green one? Surely not. Is it because the citadels of Thomond and Musgrave have magical, mystical properties? Hmmm, I’ve been to Musgrave and in terms of mysticism, it’s right up there with an abattoir.
The only conclusion to be drawn was that Ireland are hard-wired to lose to the All Blacks.
It’s not a particularly scientific theory, nor is it conjecture that will win many friends in these parts. But in a shared rugby history that spans 105 years and 23 matches, trying to rationalise why Ireland’s greatest glory in that time was a 10-10 draw (1973) is not easy.
Surely at least once in that time, Ireland should have been able to muster that heady combination of passion, planning and pragmatism that Munster seem to have mastered by rights?
Do the Irish have too much respect for the All Blacks? As soon as you start holding a team in reverence, as many here seem to do, you have no chance.
It is a theme All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith, perhaps the most outside-the-box thinker among the All Black panel, expounded on in the wake of the 49-3 thumping of Scotland. “The Scottish boys made a bit of an error in talking too much about us before the game,” he said. “That’s what potential victory against the All Blacks does: they start thinking, ‘If we win this we’re going to be legends’, rather than actually doing the business, then talking about it.
“You have to be careful about that.”
Having said that, if Ireland win tomorrow, it will be an epic upset. Not every All Black side is a great one, but this one is pretty damn good. Their two pillars, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are peerless in their positions.
More important than individuals, however, is the fact they have adapted to the new law interpretations quicker than anybody. That has given them scope to redefine what you can do with turnover ball and possession kicked to you.
He might not get the column inches McCaw and Carter get, but watch the way Mils Muliaina seeks out space after a turnover and injects himself into the line away from traffic.
Add to that the fact that most of the forwards can handle like backs and have a work ethic and appetite to get involved in everything and you have a team with threats all over the park.
But they do have weaknesses. At times they do not commit enough numbers to the breakdown and good teams can exploit that. They have also been guilty of not being able to adjust their game on the fly when things start going awry — watch footage of the past five World Cups for painful evidence of this.
Ali Williams’ long-term injury, Brad Thorn’s hamstring strain and the desire to rest young buck Sam Whitelock sees Anthony Boric and Tom Donnelly line up as one of the All Blacks’ least-credentialed second rows.
So there are chinks in the armour. Small ones, but chinks nonetheless. The black jersey is not a cloak of invincibility, it is just a piece of playing kit — the kind Munster would relish playing against.
Locals and neutrals alike will be hoping Ireland can finally channel some of that attitude.
- The author, a former Irish Examiner journalist, now writes on rugby for the New Zealand Herald.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
