Prepared for a backlash
Dublin
Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland present enough of a challenge for world champions New Zealand in Saturday’s Test for the Kiwis not to have to be motivated by a painful defeat they inflicted on the Irish in 2016, says Ryan Crotty.
The 30-year-old broke Irish hearts in 2013 in Dublin. scoring a try off the last move of the match which was converted to snatch victory after their opponents had led 22-17.
He believes a clash between the top two-ranked teams in the world in the cauldron of Lansdowne Road was more than a player could ask for.
“How can you not be excited if you’ve got this opportunity to play?” Crotty asked.
“It’s two of the best teams in the world going at it, over here, awesome atmosphere, awesome stadium, great fans.
“You don’t need to go anywhere else, you don’t need to dip into the past to find the desire and the intensity to play and play well.”
Crotty, who missed out on the victorious World Cup squad in 2015, and hooker Dane Coles appear to have the same understanding off the pitch as on it.
Their teamwork came to the fore when Crotty was asked if the All Blacks have the same intensity going into this match as they did in 2016 when they came to Dublin a few weeks after the Chicago defeat and beat the Irish.
“I hope so,” said Crotty. “We’re going to need to.”
Coles, who was a key member of the 2015 World Cup-winning side before injuries over the past couple of years have seen Codie Taylor take his place in the starting XV, says Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has given the Irish a much more formidable array of skills than they had in the past.
“They’ve definitely got a more all-round game,” said the 31-yearold.
“They’re not the classic team who just scrums and drives, their skill-sets are huge.” –