Murray Kinsella reports from Chicago
THE FIRST PRESS conference of match week and already confirmation that Ireland aren’t the biggest deal in New Zealand.
In fairness, 75-cap blindside Jerome Kaino has a strong knowledge of Joe Schmidt’s side’s recent fixtures and memories of his own experiences of playing against Ireland, but young Ardie Savea alongside him struggled for insight.
The 23-year-old hasn’t played against Ireland, having just nine caps to his name so far, and was stumped when asked if he could recall watching any Irish teams or players as he grew up in New Zealand.
“Emm… not from the top of my head I can’t.”
This is not meant as a criticism of Savea, merely a glimpse into the lack of status Ireland hold in rugby-obsessed New Zealand. Having never made a dent on the World Cup semi-finals, it’s arguable whether Ireland deserve any of the Kiwis’ attenion.
Fortunately, the wise elder Kaino was on hand alongside Savea, providing a succinct review of Ireland’s tour of South Africa, as well as his genuine surprise at hearing that Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony hadn’t travelled.
Kaino has worked with Schmidt before, back when the Ireland boss was an assistant coach to David Nucifora at the Blues.
Having just been asked by one Kiwi reporter if he views himself as a “rugby head,” Kaino points to Schmidt as being exactly that.
He’s a very well prepared man, he’s very similar to the coaches we have here,” says Kaino. ”They focus a lot on the detail and if you see the way that Ireland play, they’re very structured with the way they play. I can see a lot of Joe Schmidt in their game plans.
“He’s a very good coach and from what I remember he’s definitely what you would call a rugby head. He’s always got a laptop with a rugby game going on, but he’s got awesome details.
“The little things, the basics done well, and you can see it with the way Ireland play. They do the basics really well.”
Schmidt was with the Blues from 2004 to 2007, before following Vern Cotter to Clermont, while Kaino also played with one of the current Ireland team at the Blues in Auckland.
Jared Payne – “a stand out” at fullback for Ireland in South Africa, according to Kaino – spent the 2011 season playing outside centre for the Blues, and his former team-mate remembers him as an excellent player.
Payne actually checked in for Ireland’s flight to the US yesterday with his New Zealand passport, so we ask Kaino if it’s odd to see a Kiwi native lining out in green.
“No, you actually feel quite proud seeing a guy take his opportunity,” says the ball-carrying flanker, who was born in American Samoa.
“He was a great player in New Zealand, but he thought he’d go overseas and make the most of his talent and he’s probably living his dream playing international footy. It’s not hard at all, we’re actually quite proud seeing him play.”
Now 33, Kaino has had a few battles with Ireland down the years, although he was not in Dublin back in 2013 when Schmidt’s men ran the All Blacks so close.
He watched that clash in Japan during one of his stints with Toyota Verblitz, but claims that the 22-3 win over Ireland at Croke Park in 2008 was “one of the toughest games I’ve played against Ireland.”
2013 is the most recent touching point for New Zealand when analysing Ireland, and that fixture is one that has come up at various stages in the All Blacks camp over the last number of years.
“There has been [mention of it] in the past, about never giving up,” says Kaino. “We really pride ourselves on our fitness and playing the full 80 or even longer, but also about how simple skill-sets make all the difference.
“If you look there, it was Dane Coles who threw an offload [for Ryan Crotty's winning try]. Guys were throwing simple passes in front and you put someone away on the edge. We have reflected a bit on that game, but not much. I’m sure we’ll touch on it this week.”
That New Zealand have never lost to Ireland could bring some pressure in Chicago this weekend, though Kaino believes it will simply be one of the All Blacks’ motivations at Soldier Field.
We want to play well,” says the Blues back row. “I’m sure the winning streak will come into it. I’m sure the coaches will touch on it, but for us: we’ve just reviewed the Australia game and we weren’t happy with it.
“The scoreboard may say something different [the All Blacks won 37-10], but we know the areas we were dominated physically. Ireland will be looking at that, looking at areas they can exploit. We’re looking at the game and looking at areas we want to improve on.
“We want to go out in Soldier Field and put in a complete performance. I’m sure the coaches will touch on the winning streak and that we haven’t lost to Ireland, but it won’t be at the top of the list of our motivations. It’ll be there somewhere.”
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…someone please put up a clip of Ryan Bairds tackle on Michael Lowry…..a thing of beauty…. and you have to have played the game to appreciate how truly exceptional it was.
@Michael Murray: Couldn’t agree more!
I saw Josh’s face in the ruck where he got hurt. Didn’t think it looked good from his reaction. A big loss to any team, except maybe Leinster.. Penny comes in and Connors comes onto the bench. Ridiculous strength in depth.
@John Thomas: Connors won’t be on the bench with Doris back.
@John Thomas: Yeh… thought the same, also why did he play on?! We were well ahead and had Penny on the bench, VDF absolutely crucial for CC and URC knockout games
As long as Joy Neville isn’t TMO again it should be a good spectacle.
Poor performance, RB exposed again soon as forward dominance is gone and he has no space he is nullified. Furlong also has never been the same player since the back injury few seasons ago, just toddles into contact no gain line anymore. Baird might be a difference and if Jenkins can have a few big games but still fear Toulouse and La Rochelle.
@Liam Kelly: …
Not being pedantic but 2 RBs in squad…specifics will help those for whom the squad players are not household names.
@Liam Kelly: RB = Rob Balacoune?!?
@Liam Kelly: Yeap, that game did no favours at all for Balacoune’s World Cup selection.
@Dave Murray: I think that Balacoune had already blown his chance on the international stage- he just doesn’t seem to have the natural game awareness necessary for Ireland’s system. I am guessing that ‘game awareness’ is a major qualification for this a Ireland team – skill set and strength etc being a given – it is clearly a common attribute of the rising stars Keenan, Doris, Hansen, Sheehan and Gibson-Park.