Ultan Dillane hoping to banish another curse in Chicago

In a city obsessed with sporting history, Ultan Dillane can see the neat symmetry with Ireland’s bid for a first win over the All Blacks this weekend as the Chicago Cubs chase a first World Series since 1908.

Ireland get their chance to avenge 111 years of hurt at New Zealand’s hands this Saturday at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears NFL team, by which time the Cubs’ fate will be known, the ill-fated baseball team going into last night’s World Series game six at the Cleveland Indians needing to tie the best of seven contest at 3-3 to force a decider tonight.

There’s no escaping the expectation and second row Dillane has been drinking it in as he strolls around Chicago, thoughts of a second piece of sporting history not far from his own mind as Cubs fans dream of theirs.