Jamison Gibson-Park set for ‘massive challenge’ inhome from home

FULL FOCUS: Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

After failing to “get off the plane” in time for their series-opening loss in New Zealand four years ago, Jamison Gibson-Park believes Ireland can save their best to last on their three-week tour and beat the All Blacks on Saturday at Eden Park.

“Not just any team gets to run out on Eden Park,” said the feisty nine, who is back in Auckland 12 years after making his debut for the local Super Rugby franchise, the Blues.

“We obviously had a crack at it in ‘22 and we got shown up pretty well that day. So it's pretty cool to get another crack at it.

“But we're under no illusions as to how tough it's going to be. They have the streak for a reason, it's a very tough place to win. So we'll have our work cut out for us.” 

Gibson-Park might now be one of the world’s best halfbacks, but when he left the Shaky Isles following the 2016 Super Rugby season that was by no means the case.

Indeed, after being overlooked for New Zealand’s under-20s team, he was in and out of the Blues under Sir John Kirwan in 2014 and 2015. 

Even Tana Umaga, the All Blacks great, who joined the Blues in 2016, didn’t want him.

While he was thrown a “lifeline” by Chris Boyd to join the Hurricanes ahead of their title-winning run in 2016, before the campaign had even kicked off he had signed with Leinster.

So did Gibson-Park have a point to prove and play with a chip on his shoulder? Yep.

Did it help sharpen his focus and act as a motivator going forward? Absolutely.

"I think it definitely did spur me on a little bit,” he said.

But Gibson-Park acknowledges that the early knocks did serve him well in the end, admitting the Test-seasoned 34-year-old is “chalk and cheese” to the player that left New Zealand as a 24-year-old.

In what ways?

“Well, I speak to my mindset, first of all,” he said. “Whether it was to do with my upbringing or what, I was just kind of pretty lackadaisical about things. I didn't start to take the game seriously until I was probably into my late 20s, when I really kind of knuckled down and that changed a lot for me, so that's probably the main thing.” 

Gibson-Park is far more content now. It’s no surprise given he’s gone on to become a mainstay under Andy Farrell and cement himself as one of the game’s leading halfbacks.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie even singled the No.9 out during his Monday press conference, saying they needed to limit his influence on the game.

Despite being away for years, the usual suspects are coming out of the woodwork looking for tickets too.

Asked whether he felt like he was home after a decade in Ireland, Gibson-Park admitted it felt different after starting a family up in his adopted country.

“It's a bit of a strange one,” he said. “I suppose all my family is out on Great Barrier Island (north of Auckland), so there's a bit of a sense of home out there for sure. But I suppose on the other hand, I've been in Ireland for ten years, pretty well settled with children being born over there and everything.

“So there's definitely a sense of home in both places.” 

Given his history with New Zealand, Gibson-Park admitted that facing the haka still hits differently to coming up against most opponents.

“It's always one I look forward to,” he said. “I suppose the team's moved on a little bit and there's not as many lads that I would have played with back in the day.

“There's still a few hanging around, so there's always that sense of a brotherly rivalry is how I see it.

“But they're awesome to be a part of. There's the build-up, the anthems and the haka, and you can't help but think of family and all that kind of thing.” 

Sentiments aside, this week is business for the classy No.9. He will come up against one of the best young halfbacks in the world in Cam Roigard and stopping the lively back will go a long way to beating the All Blacks.

“He's a pretty special player, isn't he?” Gibson-Park said of his likely opponent. “He's kind of really burst onto the scene in the last couple of years and he's played some outstanding footy.

“But it's always great to come up against lads who are at the top of their game, which is what we'll face this weekend.” 

Despite moving on from Scott Robertson earlier this year, the All Blacks are on a three-match winning streak over Ireland and have already made a bright start under Rennie.

“They're playing some good footy, aren't they?” said Gibson-Park. “Fairly expansive and they're pretty happy to have a crack from deep.” 

Asked to put his finger on why Ireland had lost three on the bounce against the All Blacks after winning a historic series in New Zealand in 2022, Gibson-Park acknowledged they were up against a supremely good side.

But he also added that they were a bit slow coming out of the blocks to start the November Tests.

"There's a few different things going on over that kind of period. You speak about the World Cup, which is the biggest game there is, and it's fine margins. But we played a pretty good New Zealand team that day [in Paris],” Gibson-Park said.

“And then I suppose they came over to us two Novembers ago, and same again, start of a campaign for us and we struggled to get going. Same again last year in November in Chicago.

“There's loads of excuses there for us. We hadn't played a lot of footy, all that kind of stuff. But the reality is we've come up against a better team, and they're looking pretty strong again, so it's going to be a massive challenge.” 

So, will they be prepared on Saturday?

“Yeah, I’d like to think so,” he said.