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'Irish jersey wasn't good enough' for All Blacks players
By Ian Cameron
Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman has recounted how All Blacks players refused to swap jerseys with Irish players during his playing career as the ‘Irish jersey wasn’t good enough’.
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Ireland take on New Zealand in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup in Paris on Saturday night in what is being billed as a revenge mission for Ian Foster’s men.
The simmering rivalry between the sides has become one of the most competitive in rugby union, with both teams looking for an edge and what is being touted as a 50/50 contest for the ages.
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Now, former Ireland hooker Jackman has come in to bat in response to claims that the current Ireland team behaved arrogantly towards their New Zealand counterparts last year during their historic series win.
Respected Kiwi journalist Gregor Paul had suggested that Peter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton had maybe crossed a line during the win on NZ soil. O’Mahony had infamously described NZ captain Sam Cane as a ‘s***e Richie McCaw’, while an exchange of words between Sexton and hooker Dane Coles had also apparently ruffled feathers with the New Zealanders.
In response, Jackman told an anecdote to Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1 that showed that the Irish had been on the receiving end of some disrespectful behaviour when Jackman played against the team during his Test career.
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“I think it’s difficult to see that [arrogance] in your own country, some of the All-Black’s captains, Richie McCaw and Sean Fitzpatrick, I grew up watching them influence referees and take no prisoners on the field and rightly so. I don’t think we should apologise for that.
“These players, both All-Blacks and Ireland, are incredibly motivated and passionate about trying to win for their country. The All-Blacks had that, they had that aura about them and it’s not so long ago that I was part of an Irish team where we went in to try and swap jerseys with them after the game and the Irish jersey wasn’t good enough. They didn’t want to swap it, they told us they’d worked too hard to get that All-Blacks jersey.
“I understand that’s their choice but that was the level they were at compared to Ireland and now we’ve joined them, we haven’t surpassed them because we’ve a long way to go. But we are number one in the world, we hope we can do something special at this World Cup.
“I don’t see any arrogance in this Irish team or with the fans either. The only thing that’s changed is we actually hope we have a chance, the rankings and bookies say we have a chance. Tomorrrow we’ll see if we’re good enough to beat one of the best teams in the world and the best over the last 100 years.
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“The jersey story never got out, I’m only telling it now because we’re being accused of arrogance. The only answer to that is to get yourself to a level where they want that Irish jersey. Where they say that beating Ireland is a decent result and this Irish team have worked their way quietly to get to that level but tomorrow is another significant test like South Africa and Scotland was. There’s also that quarter-final barrier that we haven’t got past before so it’s going to be fascinating. It’ll be a bounce of the ball tomorrow if both teams play at their best so hopefully we’re lucky with that bounce of the ball.”
Looks like the real heavyweights of World rugby could be lining up in final ABs n the Boks ,the lightweight flash in the pan teams from NH all but gone ,leaving it to the pastey Poms to save grace ,never write off the ABs n Boks again
I had to laugh at this comment especially given the best players for Ireland this World Cup are all Kiwis and ex Māori All Blacks. No matter what they say no matter what they espouse they haven’t got the consistency of class and skill set in home grown players to successfully compete when it counts.
A lot of what is written below takes away what an epic game it was with both teams literally spent at finish . I was at 1987 final against France at Eden Park and it doesn’t even compare in intensity and excitement
Magnificent All Blacks. Every Safa I know was supporting the AB's last night. This was one of the best AB performance I've ever seen. Epic match. I said weeks ago... never write off the AB's. So where is all the talk of an all NH semi finals now? 2 NH sides going home already and 2 more going out tonight. Hoping to meet our AB brothers in the final. Going to be an enthralling match tonight between the Bokke and France. Go Bokke!
You are boring !!, where is the fun in SH teams playing each other all the time. YAWN
Oh where are all the big mouth Irish fans now? Lots too say after beating SA & hammering Scotland -Yet QF is still too difficult - I thought Ireland were gonna win the whole damn thing…Where are all those supporters now? F off back to your green pastures and continue drinking your beers. The Irish will never participate in a rugby world cup final they’ll always watch it on the tv. TOSSERS
Hi toss pot , get something straight, Ireland was never all talk,about beating Scotland or South Africa naturally delight to, against w c, go back drink coffee, if you get some one to buy it for you
Very classy, what kind of tosser would put such a comment.
Your the tosser,already beat by france,the Abs will get the handy match v argentina,but then france will beat them,france and ireland should have been the final,the ref gave pens to the all blacks,ireland are better than the all blacks and you havent a clue,dummy
I think in those days they had to take the jerseys home so mum could wash it for next week…
So being mocked after a loss and called a “sh**e Richie McCaw“ is comparable to a refusal to swap jerseys because the player might want to keep their own game jersey?
To be fair though, Ireland was a walkover in those days…so..whats the point of being upset about it?
That Irish jersey had QF written all over it..
Still not good enough
🤣
Yup
Not called the “ IWISH “ for nothing !!
You are conning yourself if you think Irish fans haven't become arrogant
The only British crowd to boo their own fans at landsdown road have become incredibly arrogant
Ahh sure god love ya first we aren’t british and they were booing themselves that’s a first. We’re they booing the fans next to them or looking in the mirror in the toilet while booing.
Since when Irish is British Ireland,
is a small country on it's own,
Why you talking about Brits? Not the brightest.
Further to my previous, look at how the AB’s respected the Namibian player who was seriously injured and carted off the field, they all signed a shirt and took it into the hospital. This is respect, but I suppose the Namibians dont try to insult their oponents’s with gobshite talk on the field and this is from an Irishman.
Didn't fit the author's narrative…
Thats a load of BS, The AB’s have always been happy to exchange shirts, this is total Shite journalism to elicit a response and divide fans of the game, Ian Cameron - get a new line of work, try proctology!!
Hopefully our locks won't have to be diving out of the line out to show the ref what cheats the Irish are like in 78.
AB are very good at that in every game and that was obviously on Saturday, quite obviously you Keiw’s can't handle small nation catching up with ye
I don't think that was vs Ireland…
Fek me. An Irish man. As quoted.in his own words…I think it’s difficult to see that [arrogance] in your own country
“I don’t see any arrogance in this Irish team or with the fans either.
Gregor Paul. I saw him quotes as saying there is respect for Ireland in NZ but not much love. This is how journalists earn money these days. And then there is this idjit called Reason all spouting shyte. Enjoy the game.
Reason is a pom
This is a typical case of whataboutery Bernard, and I am a bit disappointed that you would come out with this nonsense right before one of the biggest games ever between these 2 nations. The past is the past, let’s leave it there.
As a defence to the Gregor Paul article, I think it is unnecessary. I don’t believe for one second that Sam Cane or Dane Coles lost any sleep over a bit of sledging during matches.
Both Johnny and POM have a track record of running their mouths in moments of high tension. Just watch POMs interview with Reggie Corrigan after defeat to Leinster or the famous JS photo standing over ROG in 2009 Heineken Cup SF. It is a sign of their passion, it is how much they care about winning, it might be a bit stupid… but it certainly isn’t arrogance.
If the PI community can tolerate Ardie losing his rag and pulling the throat slitter gesture in a boil over in a super game then I think we can all do with out journos muck raking.
I read once that there was a bit of a natural spit with more Tongan’s in Oz and Samoans in NZ. If Ardie was a bit insensitive to the Tongan community then they all did very well it out like grown ups ..
To be fair, he says himself that it’s whataboutery and he’s not whining about it. Also, he doesn’t name names.
Well, not everyone loves it, so it's out.
Toss pot joe
C'mon bud that's a shitty post
Lovely comment Joe… so inciteful and detailed. I love the clever word play. And then the humility to uptick your own comment. Well done. You must be so proud!!
They were happy enough swapping jerseys with Uruguay last week. I don't think Irish fans have been any more arrogant than the fans of other top teams but a lot of the players certainly have antagonistic vibes, in particular Sexton and it's not new. A little bit of humility wouldn't go amiss.
Are you really Ruby? Ki ora . Funniest I've ever seen was Otere Black ? putting his tounge out as he rounded a player to score in the corner. ( maybe a Fijian? KT was in the comentry box, his response was hilarious. Like ‘Wo he’s given him the tounge’. I'm guessing that's a very Maori bit of humour I'm seeing? Been in the UK for years, too long Laughed like hell seeing a bit of home. Same spirit as your name sake I think. Good to have the ferns to turn to if thing go wrong with the guys.
Hello! I probably know more about horses than rugby. In New Zealand growing up it was Rugby,Racing and Beer.
I love the All Blacks. I just don’t like the way the NZRFU run the game. Anyway I think Ireland will win.
Now both supporters can benefit Financially, whoever wins.
It’s 5.28 pm in New Zealand right now.
So here’s the deal. Have you got a TAB Account or near a TAB.
There is a horse in Race !0 7.50 pm at Caulfield #3 AMELIA”S DREAM
She could possibly be the best mare in Australia. She has drawn wide but it won’t matter. She is that good!
Anyway if you back her to WIN and Ireland to WIN you will get $4.80 for 1 Dollar.
If you back her to WIN and take the All Blacks you will get $5,00
Hey a lazy $50 becomes $240.00 with Ireland and $250.00 with New Zealand.
Hope you enjoy the game. Lets hope the All Blacks WIN.
Personally I couldn’t back them with stolen money.
You’re right. Stick to horses.
Mate they probably had work too hard to get the jersey and rightly didn't want to swap it doesn't matter if your iris Scottish poms South Africans so sounds like a bit of paranoid inferiority complex
Silly, dishonest, disrespectful article.
Haha why is Jackman wanting to join the salty brigade along with the New Zealanders? How many Irish are with him there?
Jackman has always been a whinge bag. His book after he retired was 1 big whinge regarding how Leinster and the IRFU treated him.
Having said that, I have warmed to him recently as an inciteful and intelligent rugby pundit… this though, dumb as f***
Lol what a yarn. The reason the All Blacks didn't swap jerseys at times, is because of the effort required to earn them…
Not arrogance, but pride in their own accomplishments.
This is a silly article, with a silly opinion that is plain wrong.
I know some All Blacks on debut don’t swap their jersey as it is a jersey to treasure forever. I doubt it’s because of arrogance but that is only an opinion.
I’ve heard the All Blacks didn’t swap if you didn’t win their respect during the game back in the day. They must’ve played poorly. Times have changed I suppose. Now they’ll flog you by 90 points and swap
If that's true that is disgraceful behavior by the Allblacks at the time.
These days the Allblacks ethos is to respect the opponents and trade jerseys.
It take about a 100+ yrs to get to the level of mystique and aura that the Black Jersey holds. 100 years of destroying every other nation that has ever tried to play them.
Most of the opponents will tell you they were not afraid, they were ready to take on the challenge, they were pumped up by the Haka and wanted to beat the All Blacks. The simple fact was no one really believe they could tame the Black Beast let alone compete with it. Deep down they knew the ABs were the bench mark- and the Holy Grail of Beating them would be one of,if not, the main highlight of their careers.
For a 100 plus years the ABs were breaking records, left right and centre, crushing bodies and smashing egos from Adelaide to Twickenham.
Yes for many the Aura had faded in recent years, and they have lost to teams such as Argentina, have been made to sweat by a few others, and have been well beaten at times by the Irish , but that Black Jersey has magic in it, the players must remember that. As a team, the jersey will elevate them to another level.
Hopefully the ABs can beat their Irish tormentors in the only game that counts today.
If not, yes, a reality check, but before people start tearing down the empire the ABs have built.
They must remember, another team needs atleast 100years of dominance and sheer excellence before they can even think about killing the legacy of the ALL BLACKS and challenge the throne of the Gods of Rugby.
How could that be put better……………..
Excellent comment, even if the last paragraph is a little exalted
Bernard Jackman never played against the All Blacks. He was capped twice during the 2005 tour of Japan, twice in the 2007 Argentina tour and all games in the 2008 Six Nations. 9 Caps in total.
I’m not sure where he got the story of All Blacks not swapping jerseys with their opponents but he never had the opportunity to do so.
Took the words right out of my mouth, if he was on the bench against AB’s and didn’t take the field then I can see an AllBlck not swapping his jersey. Sounds like a sulk to me, if it’s true it’s taken15 yrs for this story to come out. Trolling gutter press Mr Cameron? How about some quality journalism before one of the biggest games of this RWC? If you can manage it of course.