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'We're the underdogs': All Blacks great says Ireland are 'favourites' ahead of first test

(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

The All Blacks will be the underdogs when they host Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland in the first match of the two nations’ three-test this Saturday.

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That’s the verdict according to All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan, who believes the Irish are the favourites heading into the much-anticipated series opener.

Kirwan told The Breakdown that he believes that due to the fact that Ireland have won three of their last five tests against the All Blacks, including the most recent encounter between the two teams, a 29-20 win in Dublin last November.

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The 1987 World Cup-winning wing added that the Irish were among Europe’s top rugby nations and praised their highly-structured attacking style of play, which he suggested will pose a threat for the All Blacks.

“I think the two northern hemisphere sides that have taken some southern hemisphere style and made it better and added their own style, I think France and Ireland are the two best European sides, I believe, on their day,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.

“You were there, Goldie [ex-All Blacks star Jeff Wilson], you and I on the sidelines when they beat us over there and they were outstanding, and they’re outstanding in their attack patterns.

“I saw stuff out there that day that I’d never seen before. I think they probably go in, besides being away from home, they go in favourites.”

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Kirwan’s comments drew the ire of Wilson, the former All Blacks outside back and fellow panellist who told The Breakdown that his colleague’s comments were “ridiculous”.

Strongly refuting Kirwan’s claims, Wilson pointed to New Zealand’s 28-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park, a record that dates back to 1994, when France were the last team to topple the All Blacks at their spiritual home ground.

“That is the most ridiculous comment, JK, to say they that are the favourites coming in,” Wilson told The Breakdown.

“It’s a tour at the end of the year and you’re saying they’ll beat us. Are you trying to say the All Blacks are underdogs at home? Are you serious? At Eden Park? You have got to be kidding me.”

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When Kirwan responded by saying “that is exactly what I am saying loud and clear”, Wilson doubled down on his sentiments.

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While he conceded that Ireland pose multiple threats across the park, Wilson noted that the All Blacks thumped the Irish in the biggest match of their last five meetings, a 46-14 victory at the 2019 World Cup quarter-final in Tokyo.

In the eyes of the former 60-test international, that is enough to solidify the All Blacks as the favourites to extend their unbeaten run at Eden Park this weekend.

“What was the most significant of those games? It was a quarter-final in a Rugby World Cup, and how much did we put on them? We put 50 on them,” Wilson said when Kirwan highlighted that Ireland have won more than they have lost in recent tests against the All Blacks.

When it comes down to it, there’s no doubt they’re a threat. They’ve got some talent. Jonathan Sexton is world-class. Jamison Gibson-Park has become a quality halfback at the international level, and their forward pack, the development of the way their props play the game.

“We recognise all of the threats, there’s no doubt about it, but to say they’re the favourites against the All Blacks in New Zealand, Andy Farrell’s thinking to himself, ‘What’s JK on?’”

Former Maori All Blacks lock Joe Wheeler sided with Wilson on the matter as he also labelled Kirwan’s comments as “ridiculous”.

“No it doesn’t, because they’ve all been either in Ireland or the US, not New Zealand,” Wheeler told The Breakdown in response to Kirwan’s claims that Ireland are the favourites because they have won three of their last five tests against the All Blacks.

“We haven’t lost to Ireland in New Zealand. That’s just ridiculous.”

Kick-off for Saturday’s test between the All Blacks and Ireland is scheduled for 7:05pm [NZT].

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Sam T 861 days ago

All I'd say to Goldie is that hubris often precedes the fall.

On form Ireland would have to enter the match as favourites. That doesn't determine who wins the match, history is against Ireland but they're no longer beaten before the whistle blows. They have the belief they're good enough to compete and beat the best.

We'll find out at the end of this series if the NZ rugby bubble is still high quality to create world beaters.

I don't believe it is any longer. We no longer have five quality Super teams and our competition consists of measuring ourselves against Australian teams who with the exception of the Brumbies, are weak.

The Brumbies were good enough to fight back in the second half of their semifinal and almost steal a famous win at the death. The Blues were beaten from the start of their final and never threatened to fight back. Yet we're expecting those same players to face sterner opposition and dominate?

Ireland are not only favourites, but can win the series.

This current All Blacks squad still has the same systemic problems from 2019 world cup. No established midfield, backrow filled with runners, ageing locks, serviceable props. We kick the ball away, can't win it back or win collisions to stop the opposition and concede penalties/cards in defence.

No first five or Rolls Royce backline can impose themselves off a weak platform. We do have the forward cattle, Foster just wasn't bold enough to pick them.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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