Irish told: Be wary of ‘angry’ ABs

A former Leinster and Ulster coach predicts the All Blacks will be ‘‘filthy, dirty and angry’’ when they face Ireland and determined to atone for last year’s test defeat in Dublin.

Matt Williams, an Australian who lives in Ireland, wrote in The Irish Times that New Zealand Rugby’s decision to stage the first of three tests at Eden Park on Saturday was ‘‘a backhanded compliment’’ to Ireland.

But Williams, who had an unsuccessful stint as Scotland coach in 2003 to 2005, reckoned Ireland’s 29-20 win last November – their third over the All Blacks since 2016 – would ‘‘toss a bucket of petrol on to the fire of Kapa O Pango-driven revenge that is burning deep inside New Zealand hearts’’.

Williams noted that the All Blacks had won 44 consecutive games at Eden Park since losing to France there in 1994 and that the ‘‘high temple’’ of New Zealand rugby, was ‘‘St Peter’s Basilica, Machu Picchu, Fatima, [Rome’s] Coliseum and Ibiza all rolled into one altar of human sacrifice’’. It was ‘‘the beating heart of ‘‘how the New Zealanders indoctrinate themselves with the belief that their team is invincible’’.

He said the last test of a series was traditionally held at Eden Park so the fact it was staging the opener this week showed ‘‘Ireland appear to have New Zealand nervous’’.

Williams said ‘‘if Ireland can create enough momentum to win just one test, the benefits of selfbelief and confidence that will be injected into the team cannot be overstated’’.

He noted that a number of World Cup-winning teams – Australia in 1991 and 1999, England in 2003 and South Africa in 2019 – had ‘‘all defeated New Zealand in the Shaky Isles in the seasons prior to their lifting of the Webb Ellis Trophy’’.

But he was also mindful that, ‘‘as the saying goes, the Kiwis are not here to put socks on centipedes. Thy are in the business of winning’’.