Francis Saili can’t see Ireland beating All Blacks ‘any time soon’

“I cannot see the day coming any time soon”.

That was the response of Munster’s All Black centre Francis Saili when asked if he thought Ireland would ever defeat New Zealand.

“There’s an opportunity for Ireland to beat New Zealand in Chicago and Dublin in November. I can’t see the day coming any time soon. I can’t see it in my head. You have to be truthful, although 2013 was a very close one. You almost took us then, so there is hope. Back home in New Zealand, the skill level is a lot better than it is here.

“I am just being brutally honest. What is happening back home is way up there ... it is coming through from a young age and is consistent over the years.”

Nor was he giving anything away when asked as to how Ireland might catch up: “There are a lot of things, but I’m not in a position to say anything about that.

The weather is a factor. Back home, you’re playing on nice sunny days, you can throw the ball around and that’s the kind of game we play... free flowing, getting offloads away, and you can see that if you’re watching the Super 15s. It’s nice to watch.”

Saili is far from complaining about life in Ireland except, perhaps, for the weather. He has been here for over six months and feels the time has gone well for him.

He is philosophical about Munster’s poor season, accepting “it happens in rugby”, and that he hadn’t come here with any preconceived ideas.

“I came with an open mind. I knew there was a young and new group, that fellows like Paul O’Connell and others would be gone, a team that was rebuilding while making its mark.”

As for what still lies ahead, he stresses that “our priority has to be to win this weekend. We are taking it a game at a time. It will be tough against Zebre because you don’t know what these guys are going to be like. They are one of these joker teams that can go out and pull something out of the hat.

“It hurt us that we came away at the end in Cardiff without a point. We were bitterly disappointed. We’ve just had a review of the game and it wasn’t a nice one.

“I know that Munster hold high regard for their own standards. It’s clichéd to say so but we need to stay really tight and get the result we need this week.”

One of the few positives from Munster’s season so far has been the emergence of Rory Scannell and the impact he and Saili have made in the centre of the field.

“Rory is an outstanding player. He’s young and to have someone like him beside me is good for me, I can work with him week in, week out. I know what his strengths and weaknesses are.”

Having become the latest concussion victim, Scannell is unlikely to partner Saili against Zebre on Friday.

However, no matter who wears the number 12 jersey, the certainty is that a very proud All Black will ensure that the player in question has his total support. Frankie Saili wouldn’t have it any other way.