PRESSURE COMES IN many different forms, and for the All Blacks the stress associated with today’s fixture in Soldier Field [KO 8pm Irish time] comes due to their incredible undefeated run against Ireland.
28 previous efforts have left Ireland without even a single victory.
Captain Kieran Read says the All Blacks don't want to be the first New Zealand side to lose to Ireland. Photosport / INPHO
Photosport / INPHO / INPHO
No one in the All Blacks set-up wants to be part of the first Kiwi team to lose to Ireland at senior men’s level.
“It’s fact and we certainly don’t want to be the first New Zealand team to lose to Ireland,” said captain Kieran Read yesterday.
“It’s been spoken about and the guys understand that, but that’s not what’s going to decide the game so there’s no point talking about it too much.
It’s about us talking about our process and showing what we do on the field.”
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Process, process, process. We’ve heard it all week and it’s made clear exactly how much of a product of New Zealand rugby Pat Lam is.
The truth is that Ireland are a sideshow for the All Blacks. Their players don’t appear to know a whole lot about Joe Schmidt’s men – rugby nerd Jerome Kaino aside – but there has been no real cause for them to take notice.
Ireland have never reached a World Cup semi-final, and they’ve never beaten the All Blacks. The close call in 2013 was simply seen as the Kiwis having underperformed in the early stages after getting their mental preparation wrong.
If the All Blacks turn up tomorrow in the kind of searing form they are capable of, the 24-point handicap will be justified.
That’s how Steve Hansen will have prepared his side – take care of our process, hit the heights we know we can, and Ireland or any opposition team are meaningless.
Read at All Blacks training this week. Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO
Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO
“It’s their first Test for a while so they would have changed a few things and adapted stuff,” said Read yesterday when asked about Ireland.
“But we know they’re a structured side, they like to play with a lot of structure and they use their nine and 10 to direct them around the field really well.
“So we’ve just got to try and upset that as much as we can on defence and try not to let them get too much go-forward.”
Oddly enough, given his relative lack of profile, Devin Toner may prove to be one of the biggest thorns in the Kiwi’s side. They have lost Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano for this fixture, meaning Jerome Kaino moves to the second row.
He’s alright, he’s a bit sore this week,” said Read of Kaino. “He’s had a few extra scrummaging sessions to keep him working out. But he’s excited by the challenge and I think he’s got a zip in his step.
“It’s a first start in a foreign jersey for him, but he’s excited by it.”
Toner’s looming presence in the middle of the lineout for Ireland won’t change the Kiwis’ approach to the lineout, however.
“It doesn’t change how we’re going to approach our lineouts, but certainly on their ball he’s a big target for them and takes the majority of their ball. So we’ve just got to be able to get up and put as much pressure as we can on him.”
Time for Toner and the rest of Ireland’s players to earn the respect.
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'We certainly don't want to be the first New Zealand team to lose to Ireland'
Murray Kinsella reports from Chicago
PRESSURE COMES IN many different forms, and for the All Blacks the stress associated with today’s fixture in Soldier Field [KO 8pm Irish time] comes due to their incredible undefeated run against Ireland.
28 previous efforts have left Ireland without even a single victory.
No one in the All Blacks set-up wants to be part of the first Kiwi team to lose to Ireland at senior men’s level.
“It’s fact and we certainly don’t want to be the first New Zealand team to lose to Ireland,” said captain Kieran Read yesterday.
“It’s been spoken about and the guys understand that, but that’s not what’s going to decide the game so there’s no point talking about it too much.
Process, process, process. We’ve heard it all week and it’s made clear exactly how much of a product of New Zealand rugby Pat Lam is.
The truth is that Ireland are a sideshow for the All Blacks. Their players don’t appear to know a whole lot about Joe Schmidt’s men – rugby nerd Jerome Kaino aside – but there has been no real cause for them to take notice.
Ireland have never reached a World Cup semi-final, and they’ve never beaten the All Blacks. The close call in 2013 was simply seen as the Kiwis having underperformed in the early stages after getting their mental preparation wrong.
If the All Blacks turn up tomorrow in the kind of searing form they are capable of, the 24-point handicap will be justified.
That’s how Steve Hansen will have prepared his side – take care of our process, hit the heights we know we can, and Ireland or any opposition team are meaningless.
“It’s their first Test for a while so they would have changed a few things and adapted stuff,” said Read yesterday when asked about Ireland.
“But we know they’re a structured side, they like to play with a lot of structure and they use their nine and 10 to direct them around the field really well.
“So we’ve just got to try and upset that as much as we can on defence and try not to let them get too much go-forward.”
Oddly enough, given his relative lack of profile, Devin Toner may prove to be one of the biggest thorns in the Kiwi’s side. They have lost Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano for this fixture, meaning Jerome Kaino moves to the second row.
“It’s a first start in a foreign jersey for him, but he’s excited by it.”
Toner’s looming presence in the middle of the lineout for Ireland won’t change the Kiwis’ approach to the lineout, however.
“It doesn’t change how we’re going to approach our lineouts, but certainly on their ball he’s a big target for them and takes the majority of their ball. So we’ve just got to be able to get up and put as much pressure as we can on him.”
Time for Toner and the rest of Ireland’s players to earn the respect.
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There’s plenty of tasty domestic action this weekend before Ireland take on the All Blacks
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