Mick Cleary: Five reasons why the All Blacks fixture is still rugby’s draw card

It still does it for me even though there are many who find that the pre-match ritual has become overblown and unnecessary. Ignore them. They are just making a song and dance about a song and dance.

FIVE REASONS: The All Blacks may have shown vulnerability of late but come kick-off time at Soldier Field on Saturday there will be a frisson once again among those clamouring to watch. It is a special moment when the All Blacks are in town. Picture: ©INPHO/Photosport/Grant Down

The Black shirt, the silver fern, the history, the aura. 

You can box and cox it however you like, and, yes, you can bang on about the current status of the Springboks (worthy back-to-back world champions and in a class of their own at the moment) but there is still something mystical and magical about the sight of those black-shirted warriors trotting down the tunnel and heading to the centre circle to get ready for the haka. It’s not logical and it’s no longer statistically correct given that Ireland have won five of the last ten encounters after breaking their duck in Chicago nine years ago, but the All Blacks still represent the ultimate challenge in rugby.