Could Ireland stars have been All Blacks? The debate raging in New Zeland rugby

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, left, with team-mates Jamison Gibson Park, James Lowe and Bundee Aki. Could the trio born in New Zealand have become All Blacks? It's a question that has split pundits. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Ireland team that defeated the All Blacks last weekend did so with no little help from three New Zealand-born players - a fact not lost on the Kiwis.

Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki and James Lowe all had careers in Super Rugby before leaving to ply their trade in Ireland having failed to be capped at international level, leaving the door open for them to represent their adopted home.