Fight Kiwi fire with fire to rekindle Chicago flame
BRENDAN GALLAGHER looks ahead to next week’s clash in Dublin between the world’s top two teams
“On that day we took New Zealand on and beat them at their own game” - Keith Wood
There was a time when New Zealand against South Africa was THE defining match within our sport. Then in the 70s came Wales against France and, briefly in the early noughties, it was England against any Southern Hemisphere team.
For a few years now though it’s been Ireland against New Zealand, a titanic tussle that has showcased everything good in the game and occasionally the brutal, unacceptable side as well.
There is no question that the hottest ticket in town this Autumn is Ireland’s meeting with New Zealand at the Aviva on Saturday. World number two hosting world number one. Reigning Grand Slam champions against the Rugby Championship winners, Steve Hansen v Joe Schmidt, Beauden Barrett v Johnny Sexton, James Ryan v Brodie Retallick and so on.
It also has the feel of a decider after effectively a 1-1 draw in the miniseries they fought out two years ago and to heighten the emotions there will also be the sniff of revenge and retribution in the air.
New Zealand, although playing much better than in defeat at Chicago the previous week, got away with some totally unacceptable high tackling throughout that game and the Irish have very long memories.
Many would directly track the change in attitudes to high tackles and no arms tackles to that game, and referee Wayne Barnes will not stand for any nonsense this time… but expect the physicality to be immense nonetheless. Nobody would want it any other way.
Although the Irish memorably broke their duck against New Zealand in Chicago they have yet to record a win on home soil and Schmidt, right, might be tempted to revisit that game at Soldier Field as he does his pre-match analysis. What was the template that day? First, and probably most important, they went into the game with the mindset that they were going to score more tries than New Zealand which sounds simple enough but is difficult to carry out with conviction. British and Irish sides have usually believed – wrongly – that the only way to beat New Zealand is outmuscle the All Black packs, play the territory game and kick their goals, but the modern day laws and their obsession with favouring the attacking team just aren’t set up to allow that anymore. In normal conditions, over 80 minutes New Zealand, no matter how well you play, are likely to score a minimum of 25-30 points and de facto you have to exceed that to win. Love it or loathe it, to a large extent, you must play New Zealand at their own game.
That’s precisely what Ireland did, outscoring their opponents five tries to four but that proactive approach is also important in other ways. If you keep the ball in hand and attack whenever possible you are by definition denying the All Blacks possession and if they don’t have the pill even New Zealand can’t score.
So you have to meet fire with fire, it’s impossible to rope-a-dope a win over New Zealand and you also have to maintain discipline. Ireland conceded just four penalties in Chicago, the lowest ever penalty count I can find for a side beating Zealand. Again, the main significance is the possession it denies them although obviously it also helps not giving away soft shots at goal.
Taking a leaf out of Japan’s famous win over South Africa a year before at RWC2015, Ireland also cut right down on the off-loads, which look great and can open defences but massively increase the risk of being turned over, especially against turnover kings New Zealand. Ireland off-loaded just three times in 80 minutes.
One aspect of Ireland’s game that will need a tickle is Ireland’s use of the box kick. Amid all the attacking intent, Conor Murray produced a master class in the art in Chicago but it’s a tactic that works only when executed brilliantly by the best in the business.
Unless, however, Murray rises Lazarus-like from the medical room where he has been receiving extensive treatment for his neck injury the last few months the Munster man won’t be involved. Box kick badly and Ireland will gift possession to New Zealand when their entire game plan depends on depriving them of possession.
“In 80 odd minutes of rugby I can remember perhaps two mistakes or unforced errors from Ireland that day,” recalls former captain Keith Wood. “The truth is that on the day we took New Zealand on and beat them at their own game. Ireland hadn’t played at that level before and the guys didn’t know if they could aspire to it for 80 minutes against the world’s best. We know now they can but you have still got to do it again if you want to beat the likes of New Zealand.”