OFF THE BACK of their Grand Slam success at the weekend, Ulster head coach Jono Gibbes believes the All Blacks will be looking anxiously over their shoulders at Ireland in the world rankings.
The top two sides in the world are due to meet in a mouthwatering clash at the Aviva Stadium in November, with Joe Schmidt’s charges intent on recording a second win over the Southern Hemisphere giants.
Less than a year out from a World Cup, it would be some statement of intent and would outline the lofty ambitions the national side now harbour after their dominant Six Nations campaign.
And, speaking ahead of his province’s trip to Cardiff this weekend, Gibbes reckons Steve Hansen will be all to aware of the threat Ireland will pose to New Zealand’s long standing reign at the top of the rankings.
“I think Ireland have not only landed a Grand Slam, but I think they were consistently the most cohesive and clinical team in that Six Nations,” the former All Black commended.
“I think what will grab New Zealand’s attention will be certainly they prepare well for every team there is no doubt about it.
“I think just that consistency of what Ireland have put together in the last couple of years, they are absolutely worthy of deep preparation as Steve Hansen’s a big fan of and worthy of total respect.”
However, for now he has to turn his attentions to Ulster’s visit to the Blues as he aims to ensure he leaves the province with European rugby next season before he returns to New Zealand to take up a role with Waikato.
It’s an unenviable task. After Edinburgh took down Munster last weekend and with Benetton having what looks to be a relatively simple run-in, there’s every possibility that the Challenge Cup could beckon next campaign.
Only six points separate fourth-placed Ulster and the Italians in fifth in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14, albeit the Kingspan outfit have a game in hand, but their wretched away record doesn’t instil any confidence.
But Gibbes is hopeful that the returning Irish heroes Jacob Stockdale and the recently re-signed Iain Henderson can provide the boost that will see Ulster over the line against Cardiff, who have quietly won four in a row.
“To have them around is great, from what they have just experienced, what they have come through, and to have them back in the environment is a boost for us,” the head coach admitted.
“What part they will play straight away I do not know, but just having their quality around and the kind of guys they are, particularly the forwards the guys they are, and it is obviously an exciting period for Jacob given what he has gone through.”
Ulster will most certainly have to upset the form book to get the win though, given they haven’t won an away game since December – at Harlequins in the Champions Cup – and the Blues are on that unbeaten run.
And, with trips to Edinburgh and Munster to finish the season, as well as home games against Glasgow and the Ospreys to come, there’s absolutely no wiggle room for the northern province, as Gibbes is painfully aware.
“We’ve had a pretty good discussion, no, a monologue – because only I talked!” Gibbes laughed, before adding more seriously: “My message to the group was we’ve got no margin of error, basically.
“That’s not necessarily results, you don’t automatically think of that, because there’s other teams playing and you don’t know what’s going to happen in rugby.
“I think we’ve just got to have no margin of error in our preparation so every day has got to be like a final preparation. That’s how deep we’ve got to go, how edgy our preparation’s got to be.
“Certainly we had a session yesterday that was good, and today, and certainly the signs are there that they understand what I mean by no margin for error in our preparation.”
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Ffs sky sports. Not a live PL game on again tonight. I have been threatening to cancel sky for a while and I will tomorrow. Dodgy satalite box it is.
West Ham vs Villa is on BT. Yup, I know, I don’t understand that one either. I blame Michael Owen…
Sports coverage in Europe is absolutely dreadful. Asia and North America are light years ahead. Almost a full programe of matches and only is available via BT. Utterly poo situation
That’s because most people don’t care about football in those places.
Be ready for the hard sell when you go to leave sky. You should get it for free for 6 months if your insistence on leaving.
No even close to being worth over 90euros per month. I noticed the didn’t reduce their price when they lost the rights to the CL coverage. Its just to expensive to have both BT and Sky Sports.
MOTD though !
I said sports coverage. More than just football to watch.
MOTD is free on BBC
Unknown. But it not live
sky sports Germany.
Chat sh*t. Get banged.
Still had to watch it on laptop tonight
The pub for me when I want to watch a game.
I wouldn’t pay those extravagant prices.
I live in Canada. It’s actually well followed here huge immigrant population who love the footy. Plenty of locals watch it too. Get all the games covered apart from cup games
Marriage is not a word it’s a sentence..
Go on United.
Jeez it’s very open…. Leicester pace up front really troubling Lovren and Sakho..
You sound somehow surprised by that :)
Congrats Eoin.
Liverpool 2-1.Leicester to lose next 3 games as the wheels start to come off.
You got that monumentally wrong.
Eating my words as i type .Even if Liverpool get back all their injured players and get a run going ,they wont catch Spurs/Arsenal/Leicester for fourth .Go all out for Europa league is the only way now .
Well done Mystic Meg sure know your stuff.
There is also Man City , Southampton and West Ham ahead of Liverpool.
Your the mystic meg if you’ve never got a prediction wrong .A condescending mystic meg at that !
Ohhh someone get this kitty a saucer of milk.
At least u didn’t eat your victims
You forgot United Paul
It’s good to see league leaders get their own live blog………
Match available live via Mobdro on NBC Sports Network…
I wonder will Jurgena Flopp celebrate the loss tonight down with the Liverpool fans
C,mon United.
Woohoo. 1-0 up.
We scored in the first half again. 2 in a row now. Exciting stuff.
Holy fcuk we scored 2 in the first half. Really exciting stuff here now
2 goals in the first half. What’s going on?
Martial is continuing the recent excellent form, when he gets a bit and more experienced he will be some striker.
Good man Vardy !!
Game over.
Chat shit get banged!!
United win 3-0 at home for the first time in yonks and no live thread!!!
Congrats Eoin, Here’s hoping for three points for the Foxes to help top off the celebrations!
Had spurs, west ham, Portsmouth, Roma and “typical” arsenal for 254 quid. Absolutely ragin :(
Had the double on Spurs and west Ham to beat the handicap. Spurs are the only reliable team this season.
Portsmouth let you down aswell Don ,they drew.
Really? Taught they won one nil? Ah its not so bad then. As long as its not just one team I don’t mind
Big Rumour Giggs is taking over Celtic
You know how twitter goes. Some parody account says something then a couple hundred retweets later some rag of a Red Top Newspaper has an exclusive.
3-1 LFC
Hahahahaha
Up Mayo …., Sô
Congrats Eoin..
Comiserations eoin. I suppose you couldn’t stay happy all your life
Christian Fuchs? You’re god dam right he does!
Like a true Christian too
Any streaming sites??
Atdhenet.tv
streamline.to
Nigel, that’s a good stream. Cheers.
That’s the one I watch myself, epl site.com were showing games too
Waddle is going on that Vardy’s goal was genius. The only thing genius about it was knowing that the keeper was going to be stupid enough to be off his line.
Bitter about the goal ? 2-0 now
Hahaha slippy, let’s see how it goes for United in April when they play Leicester shall we?
April is a long way off yet , but a 3-0 win against Stoke so far isn’t bad . What’s with the slippy
Ron, why so salty?
Ron,
Vardy’s goal was an absolute worldy. You haven’t got a clue about football.
At least you were cute enough to stay away from Arsenal ,Ron best chance in years to win the league and they are blowing it .
Leicester will get a result against them as well and maybe City.
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