‘We sort of owe them one’
Joe Moody had the good sense not to try to swerve the inevitable question about the All Blacks’ loss to Ireland last November.
All Blacks loosehead prop Moody didn’t play in the 16-9 defeat to the Irish in Dublin last November – he had suffered a cut to an eyelid during training the previous week and was ruled out of the rest of the northern tour, but he would still have have felt rotten after the event.
Because All Blacks, or their fans, never forget a defeat.
The Irish fans at Aviva Stadium that evening went bananas, and rightly so.
It was the first time the All Blacks had suffered a loss in Ireland, and proved, once again, that their coach, Joe Schmidt, possessed the remarkable knack of making his fellow Kiwis suffer on the rugby field.
‘‘I suppose a little bit in the back of your mind, it reminds you, I guess, that we sort of owe them one,’’ Moody said as he prepared for the World Cup quarterfinal against Ireland on Saturday.
‘‘At the same time it’s not something we dwell on, or focus on. It’s just that they have got a couple on us in recent history.
‘‘It wouldn’t matter who you are playing this week, it is just that we have to win.’’
Schmidt, who will walk away from the Ireland job after the tournament in Japan, has established himself as one of the best coaches in the world since replacing Declan Kidney in 2013.
His record against the All Blacks is the envy of many other international coaches: two wins and two losses.
The 40-29 win in Chicago in 2016 was the first time Ireland had toppled the All Blacks, and although they were punished 21-9 in the return game in Dublin a couple of weeks later they didn’t disappoint their loyal fans when the New Zealanders returned a couple of years later.
Moody was yellow carded for a tip-tackle in Chicago, but had the satisfaction of being in a team that set the record right – in their view – in Dublin.
The appointment of referee Nigel Owens could be viewed as a good omen for the All Blacks, given captain Kieran Read appears to communicate well with the Welsh chatterbox.
The fact remains, though, that Owens isn’t going to offer any favours if they dare tackle an Irishman above the shoulders.
‘‘The discipline side of things is definitely something we have been working on, in all aspects of our game,’’ said Moody, ‘‘especially, you would have seen in the last couple of games on defence.’’
Moody, who is expected to start on Saturday, should face a familiar opponent at Tokyo Stadium.
Tadhg Furlong started in all three tests when the British and Irish Lions met the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2017, and the duo also marked each other in 2016.
‘‘We have played each other a few times. We sort of know what each other is up to. It will be a good old battle,’’ Moody said.
‘‘Internationally he has got to be right up there, as one of the best. Come Saturday night she’s all go.’’