Milestones and millstones

THIS evening’s Ireland versus New Zealand match represents an occasion laden with milestones.

Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina will become the most capped All Blacks of all time when they play their 93rd Tests, if fly-half Dan Carter scores 21 points at the Aviva Stadium he can surpass England’s Jonny Wilkinson as the all-time record points scorer and Graham Henry can win the 100th Test in his coaching career.

Alas, that milestone for Henry will mean another millstone around Irish necks. Defeat means a 24th consecutive failure to beat the All Blacks since 1905 and there have been few signs this autumn to suggest we should expect anything else.