FANS HAIL MEN IN GREEN

RATHER than mourn the end of the All Blacks’ world-record winning run yesterday, New Zealanders backed coach Steve Hansen’s analysis that Ireland deserved their historic 4029 victory in Chicago. “The right side won... we’re not going to make any excuses,” Hansen declared as the New Zealand news media and callers to talk radio voiced agreement. “Magnificent men in green: Ireland make history,” trumpeted the New Zealand Herald. “Sweet sporting history made,” Fairfax New Zealand said on its website, highlighting that it was Ireland’s first win over New Zealand after 29 Tests in 111 years. In New Zealand, where rugby is almost a religion, Test losses usually cause national mourning and the more surprising the loss the bigger the hurt.