BLACK ON TRACK
Ominously for Ireland, the Kiwis are starting to hit their stride as they set sights on France 2023
SLOWLY, but surely, the All Blacks are finding their groove again. There was fresh evidence yesterday when Ian Foster’s side concluded their Rugby Championship campaign with a comprehensive 40-14 hammering of the Wallabies in Eden Park. Australia have not beaten their arch rivals at the hallowed Auckland venue since 1986, and you can see why.
New Zealand are beginning to find their mojo. The class of 2022 still have a few kinks to work out, but they could be humming again by next year. It doesn’t bode well for Ireland in 2023.
Andy Farrell’s men could be on a collision course with the men in black at the looming World Cup. It all hinges on what unfolds at Stade de France on September 8 of next year. The suburb of Saint-Denis will be buzzing ahead of kick-off. The opening night of the 2023 World Cup in France is going to be positively
They look more polished and cohesive since Schmidt came on board
blockbuster as France, the tournament hosts, take on New Zealand in front of 81,000 people in the heaving Parisian citadel.
Privately, neither team were thrilled with such an arrangement. Historically, the tournament hosts have been jittery on their home patch and prefer more modest opposition to get over the early nerves. Japan faced Russia in the curtainraiser in 2019 and were all over the shop, eventually sealing a 30-10 win. They hit their stride against Ireland in Shizuoka a week later.
The memory of France getting ambushed by Argentina on the opening night in 2007 remains vivid. Their opponents aren’t too thrilled either. There are generations of All Blacks who are still scarred from what transpired against Les Bleus in 1999 and 2007. The 2011 final was a nail-biter as well. This fixture has come about because of some politicking by some French officials. Still, it’s going to be epic.
Watching on with interest will be
Farrell and his players. Ireland will be well settled in their World Cup camp in Tours by then. They will be taking it easy ahead of their tournament opener against the Namibians in Saint-Etienne the following afternoon. The result in Paris will be telling. Whoever wins will ultimately top Pool A, with the losers set to take the runner-up spot ahead of the quarter-finals.
Should Ireland, provided they progress from Pool B, make the knockout stages, they will face either France or New Zealand. It all hinges on what happens against South Africa and the Scots in the final two rounds.
Indeed, Farrell’s squad could beat the reigning champions and Gregor Townsend’s lads and be rewarded with a quarter-final against the men in black. They could slip up against the Boks or the Scots and end up with the same result.
Maybe it’s Joe Schmidt’s presence on the new-look coaching ticket these days, but you just get the feeling that Ireland and the Kiwis will be crossing paths again. Again, it should be a hell of a contest. If Farrell can source another top-class out-half, tighthead and lock, the Ireland boss will feel this group can deal with anything which comes their way.
One thing is certain, however. New Zealand will be a completely different proposition to the disjointed outfit which lost a home series 2-1 against Ireland in the summer. The Schmidt factor cannot be overestimated. New Zealand already look a more polished and cohesive side since the former Leinster and Ireland supremo came on board to sort out their stuttering attack.
He’s brought the old playbook with him as well. Eagle-eyed fans will have spotted a few old strike-moves which did the trick during Schmidt’s days in Dublin. Having sat in the Ireland coaches’ box in Tokyo almost four years ago and watched his team’s World Cup chances go up in smoke, it would be a cruel irony to see Schmidt consign the same outfit to a depressingly familiar fate, again.
The All Blacks certainly look a lot more imposing now. For one thing, they’ve sourced some quality frontrowers since the Ireland debacle. Some of the old guard have been turfed out. Samisoni, Taukei’aho, Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax have been the real finds of the Rugby Championship. De Groot is only 24 and looks a bit raw, but he is exactly the kind of customer which New Zealand lacked against
Porter, Furlong and Co a few months ago.
The Highlanders loosehead is a hard-nosed customer and, on top of his powerful scrummaging, has a bit of oldschool about him. He certainly has the trademark 1,000 yard stare which was synonymous with tough customers like Richard Loe, Craig Dowd and Tony Woodcock. De Groot loves a big hit as well.
Lomax has been a real find at tighthead. Another prop who lives to scrummage, the Hurricanes frontrower is beginning to throw his weight around in the loose as well. He showed up well in yesterday’s demolition job in Eden Park. Taukei’aho
forged ahead of veteran Codie Taylor at hooker during the tournament. Taylor started yesterday’s big win, but Taukei’aho will feel he is the one who emerged from the competition in credit.
The Highlanders hooker is another gnarly customer who has given the All Blacks front five a bit more edge. Brokie Retallick and Sam Whitelock found a few more gears as well. Ardie Savea remains world class at No8.
It’s a worry for their World Cup rivals because once New Zealand get their set piece and forward pack sorted, they have no shortage of strike power. Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane and Caleb Clarke caused havoc against Australia.
The All Blacks management may have stumbled upon their solution after trying a host of inside centres as well. Jordie Barrett looks a natural there yesterday, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck got in the action in the latter stages from the bench.
Tuivasa-Sheck could be New Zealand’s secret weapon in 2023.
There will be more opportunities to track their progress in the months ahead. New Zealand have dates with Japan, Wales, Scotland and England during the autumn internationals.
For now, they can reflect on some restorative recent work since Ireland were in town.
‘We’ve done some good problemsolving,’ Foster said yesterday.
‘We’ve worked hard, and it’s given this team a little bit of steel and it’s given us some harsh lessons we kind of wish we didn’t have to deal with, but we did. In those situations you either fold and walk away because it’s too hard, or you buckle up and get stuck into work.
‘The work of the players has been phenomenal, and we’re growing belief. But we’ve still got some steps to go.’
The worry for Ireland is that they will take thos steps and hit their peak in France next year.