WE AT THESCORE.IE kept to our word and put some of the best reader’s questions to Declan Kidney and Brian O’Driscoll at the Ireland team announcement in Auckland on Thursday.
The Irish coach and captain fielded queries from the assembled media at the Spencer Hotel for 20 minutes before breaking off to do one-on-one interviews with radio, television and print journalists alike.
Somewhere in between all of that, TheScore.ie delivered some of our readers’ most searching chin-scratchers.
We received the questions through our comment system and through the @patmccarry Twitter account of our roving reporter.
You asked, they answered:
‘Owen’
Brian O’Driscoll: “I don’t know how many times I have been lucky enough to play (here) but it is always an enormous challenge and one you thoroughly look forward to.
You are playing the world champions in their first game after they, rightly, won the crown. It is a huge challenge but also a huge opportunity.
He added, “I don’t know,beyond these fixtures, when the All Blacks are due to tour Ireland again and I don’t really care in this moment in time. It’s about these three games and three opportunities.”
‘Robbie Shaw’
Brian O’Driscoll: “Throughout the years we’ve had (Kiwi) coaches and players coming over who have come over and played with us in Ireland.
Obviously, you have Dougie down in Munster,who has had a huge impact down there, and I know that Isa is technically Fijian but he was born and bred here in Auckland. Him and Brad Thorn this year, yeah, there’s definitely an effect.
“It is not only what they bring from a specifics and a rugby point of view but it is also a bit of the mentality side of things too. I’ve had things to take from their game, as much as I’ve taken from players of other nationalities as well. I don’t want to make it too specific to Kiwis.
“I’ve learned a lot from Aussie players and Rocky (Elsom) when he came in 2009. I learn from Ronan O’Gara every day. I learn from Jamie Heaslip and Paul O’Connell and young guys that come in.
You see things that Simon (Zebo) is able to do at training and you try and steal that little bit from his game.
“It is all (about) constantly trying to evolve as a player, and if that means taking aspects of another player’s game that you really like, then so be it.
“There is no patent on certain skills and moves in the sport that we play.”
‘Simon Lynch’
Declan Kidney: “(Provincial success) sets the boys in a good mind-set and gives them a winning mentality – that is always good.
Ask the lads themselves and they’ll tell you that the difference between provincial rugby and Test rugby is quite a step-up and we’d be fooling ourselves to think otherwise.
“It’s a help but, look, it didn’t hinder Wales this year that they didn’t have anybody going through (in the Heineken Cup). It’s a help but no more than that.”
He added, “When you are playing the world champions in their own back yard in their first game at home after the World Cup you have to be at the top of your game.
“There’s no secrets around any of that. But we believe that, if we are, then we will be in with a shout.”
You can follow all the latest news, comments and goings on from the Irish camp by following @patmccarry on Twitter and by regularly checking in with TheScore.ie.
Won’t impact them really. Those are not huge losses. Munster v Wasps– now that was a squad decimated by COVID.
Serious chance here lads
@whoowhat?: you mean there’s a chance……
@whoowhat?: Eden Park, that would be historic altogether.
@Keith McCarthy: in llyod christmas’s world maybe
@daveyt: so you’re telling me there’s a chance ?
@Sean McCarthy: too right mate, put a few shrimp on the barbie ;)
What do people make of those billboards they’ve put up anywhere the Irish team are due to go? Stinks of desperation if you ask me. Are the NZ team embarrassed by them or are they lacking confidence that they take solice in them? If anything they’re going to fuel the fire in the Irish camp, probably exactly what we need after Ulster and Leinster feeling a bit dejected after the URC exits.
@SPQH: billboards?
@SPQH: take it as a compliment and a laugh, Irish bookmakers have done same, but much witter and better. Its really a non story
@SPQH: A Kiwi gambling company TAB NZ behind this.
Good luck to them provoking Paddy Power’s social media team!
@Paul Kennedy: wittier*
@SPQH: i don’t think they matter much, if it generates a bit of rivalry and sells more tickets fair play, maybe is a compliment that NZ fans are taking Ireland seriously.
@Paul Kennedy: OK fair enough, didn’t realise it was a bookmakers that was behind it.
@Doug Storms: Yeah, 3 outside Missouri.
Ireland can give back the players they robbed from new Zealand
@Tony Mcgrath: and then New Zealand can give back all the players they robbed from Tonga, somoa etc it works both ways
@Sole Trader: Australia & Scotland too.
@Tony Mcgrath: Ah c’mon. You can be more creative than “robbed”. Put some effort in man.
@Tony Mcgrath: robbed? Like what they did to Isa?
Getting Joe Schmidt on board reeks of desperation from Foster I think .
@Macus Mc Mahon: more like Feeks
All Blacks obviously taking a leaf out of the Tyrone playbook. Ireland beware .