All Blacks 66 Ireland 28
Video killed the radio star but in rugbyland ill-discipline killed off any opportunity Ireland might have had of competing against the mighty All Blacks in Hicksville, NZ last night.
A brain-snap by No. 8 Jamie Heaslip in the 15th minute, when he did a knees-up on Richie McCaw’s scone, resulted in his banishment and cruelled any hope of Ireland’s Call.
Heaslip, the son of a retired Brigadier-General in the Irish Army (so he should know something about discipline), has been subsequently banned for five weeks and won’t feature against the Wallabies in a fortnight. A world ranked player, this will be a significant loss for Ireland.
Not satisfied with fielding only 14 men (and to add to his dismal disciplinary record of losing rugby series to Southern Hemisphere nations e.g. British and Irish Lions clanger), Ronan O’Gara flopped all over Cory Jane as he attempted to follow up a grubber kick to the tryline and….then there were 13.
13 v 15 is a really hard sell at any level but when its against the All Blacks, it’s terminal. And so it proved. Try after try as the All Blacks ran rampant. Three tries later, after leading 17-0 at that stage and, to be sure, it was 38-0. Game over.
Not that Ireland, who have never beaten the All Blacks before, ever, anywhere, had much of a hope in the first place but they’ve sent South their best available team (barring a fair number of injured first team players), a mixture of old stagers and young talent.
You’d think any team with Kearney, Bowe, BO’D, Darcy, O’Gara, O’Leary, O’Driscoll, O’Callaghan, Wallace, Hayes and Heaslip in it would provide some sort of a challenge to our neighbours. Sadly, it was not to be but I guess it was unable to be measured anyway due to the early brain snaps.
In the first instance, Prop John Hayes had to pull out prior to the game due to a virus and was replaced by Tony Buckley. Buckley, no rookie with 17 tests under his belt had a blinder. A 130kg giant from Munster, his size and gait reminded me very much of Rodzilla, except that he could scrummage, had a huge workrate and was very mobile for such a big guy.
The other Irishman who impressed was 25 year old winger Andrew Trimble, a 28 test veteran. He was into everything and, apart from one SNAFU when he lost the ball over the line, was their best back.
To be frank, I was very disappointed with BO’D. He was strangely disconnected in the first half and made no real impression on the game. He became a little more prominent in the second half as the All Blacks eased off but he seemed to me to be only a shadow of what he once was.
I doubt this Irish side will pose a major threat to the Wallabies; however, if they can keep all 15 players on the park they’ll give them a stern workout.
Heaslip’s shamrock shambles notwithstanding, the difference in style, pace and support play between these two teams was like chalk and cheese, or perhaps in a (Northern) Irish context, the Reverend Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams.
The All Blacks were dangerous every time they fielded poor Irish kicks or gained possession from Irish mistakes.
It’s no wonder the Northern Hemisphere teams languish behind the South. The physicality and athleticism of the Kiwis stood out like dog’s balls, and their willingness to counter-attack with ball in hand; the thrust and parry out wide of Cory Jane, Smokin Joe or the virginal Izzy Dagg, spelled ‘danger’ every time they had the pill.
‘Young Joe’ Stanley and Conrad Smith teamed up well in the centres – Smith was head and shoulders above BO’D, but I just can’t wait until ‘Frog Dog’ Sonny Boy Williams and Rene Ranger eventually come together for the ABs, they’ll be a sensation and you read it here first……
The other General on display last night was Dan Carter, who is back to his sublime best. Everything he touched turned to gold and his less than super form in the Super 14 seems an age ago.
Read, Kaino, the Franks duo and latterly Victor Vito helped to get them over the gain line and set up this tryfest for their team.
For the Irish, they’d be encouraged by their second half display but by then Nijinsky had well and truly bolted as the ABs resorted to their bench.
Highlight of the match for me was Aaron Cruden lined up with his mates for the first time during the anthems.
“Crikey, mister, what am I doing here?” He looked just like a naughty little boy…..
Scorers: New Zealand: Tries: Smith 11, 48, Read 21, B Franks 27, Cowan 29, 33, Whitelock 50, 76, Tialata 65 Con: Carter (7) Pen: Carter, Weepu (2)
Ireland: Tries: Tuohy 35, B O’Driscoll 56, Bowe 61, D’Arcy 75 Cons: O’Gara (3), Sexton
H/T score: 38-7
