Joe Schmidt puts faith in tried and trusted for New Zealand test

Joe Schmidt may not believe in omens but in a week of sporting romance in the city of Chicago he would love to borrow a little of the Cubs’ stardust to end Ireland’s 111-year wait for a victory over New Zealand.

The Irish will get their captain’s run training session at Soldier Field wrapped up nice and early today to avoid the Cub’s World Series victory parade when an estimated two million-plus Chicagoans are expected to flood the streets of the city to celebrate their first title since 1908.

Their Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night has brought Ireland’s own drought against the All Blacks into sharp focus and head coach Schmidt is understandably more than keen to finally end a 28-game run without victory since 1905.