Doug Howlett: Ireland better placed to conquer All Blacks in Dublin than in Chicago

Soldier Field, Chicago. The All Blacks. Rarely has one game and one venue captured the imagination in the manner of Ireland’s upcoming meeting with New Zealand in the Windy City. 

Thing is, Joe Schmidt’s side stands a better shot at immortality in dear old Dublin a fortnight later.

That’s Doug Howlett’s take on it anyway.

Nothing to do with home advantage and all that, though it should help. No, it’s more the fact that maybe, just maybe, the world champions will be starting to puff a little as the end approaches of a long year campaigning.

“If you look at the last few tours, it is normally England where we have tripped up towards the end of the tour. Mentally, it is the last game of the season. Your family are gathering around you. Your wife is looking to see where you’re going on holidays. All these types of things play a role.

“In Chicago, they would have just left New Zealand. They will be relatively fresh and they will want to start the tour off well. Two weeks later, in Dublin, could be a different story after they have been travelling around. On the other hand, these guys are so professional now and they are managed this way.”

As hope goes, then, that’s no more than a glimmer though Howlett’s theory is given further credence by the last game of their 2013 season, when the Kiwis pilfered the win against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Good as they were then, though, they are better now. Howlett has been as impressed as anyone by New Zealand’s ability to manage the retirements of so many key players since last year’s World Cup success and move on to an even higher grade of achievement. With five rounds of the Rugby Championship played, they have a maximum 25 points stowed away and Howlett hasn’t been surprised at the seamless nature of what other countries would deem to be a tricky transitional period. During seven years with the All Blacks, he saw Richie McCaw fill the boots of Josh Kronfeld and he witnessed Dan Carter assume the 10 cockpit when the likes of Andrew Mehrtens and Carlos Spencer moved on.

“Every four years it happens and it is not like Beauden Barrett hasn’t been around. Aaron Cruden and Sam Cane have been on the scene. They’re just getting their chance. It says a lot about the environment that they can come in and just fit in seamlessly. I’ve often said it about the All Blacks: It is just a well-run machine. You could put a Keith Earls into that set-up and he would look even more exceptional than he does now. He just fits in, does his job and he doesn’t have to worry about anyone else, because everyone knows their role through and through.”

The answer is diplomatic when asked if Ireland have a chance of stopping the latest black juggernaut and he eschews names when quizzed on those he might like to see take them on over the two weekends.

Among them will likely be a handful of players born outside of Ireland, but eligible to play on residency grounds and a growing debate about imported talent continued yesterday with Munster’s signing of Kiwi hooker Rhys Marshall.

The breakthrough of Darren Sweetnam — Howlett is, unsurprisingly, a fan — at Munster is proof that there is plenty of untapped talent closer to hand, too, and the former All Black agrees more could be done to identify it. Talent ID is just one piece of that pie. Providing a canvas for promising young players to shine is another and both the AIL and B&I Cup have been criticised as less than fit for purpose in that regard.

“If you’re talking about preparing players, no better place to go than Doncaster on a cold and wet November night,” said Howlett. “If you’re a front row, that’s where you’re going to get taught your lessons. No doubt about it.

“I coached at that tournament a couple of years ago and you’re playing against grizzled, ex-professionals with a work ethic. For an 18/19-year-old kid, you’d rather learn there than a full house at Thomond Park and be marched off the pitch.

“There’s pros and cons. I do feel that the [AIL] league certainly has its merits as well. If we could lift that level to the standard of, say, the B&I, then those lessons could be learned there as well.”