Ireland head into their Chicago showdown with the All Blacks on Saturday carrying something that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago – genuine belief.
Andy Farrell’s men are in the United States brimming with confidence. Since taking charge in 2020, Farrell has squared his ledger against New Zealand with three wins and three defeats – a record that would have been unthinkable for any Irish coach not long ago.
When Ireland last faced the All Blacks on American soil in 2016, they had never beaten New Zealand in 28 attempts dating back to 1905. That all changed at Soldier Field, where Joe Schmidt’s side stunned the rugby world with a 40-29 victory.
That historic breakthrough – and the four wins that have followed since – have stripped away the once-daunting All Blacks aura.
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For 27-year-old wing Tommy O’Brien, who only made his Test debut in July, that mental shift is obvious.
“Everyone has very fond memories of 2016,” O’Brien said. “I was just out of school, but I remember watching it and being delighted with the guys. I watched it down in Gleeson’s with a couple of my friends at the local pub.”
“One of my good friends, Jack Ringrose, is Garry’s brother, and Garry was on the bench that day, so it was a pretty special day.”
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O’Brien says that match marked the end of Ireland’s inferiority complex against the All Blacks.
“That [New Zealand] team had come off the back of the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and were obviously a very successful team. But that was the breaking of the barrier in 2016 and we’ve managed to beat them a couple of times since.
“We definitely don’t put them up on a pedestal. We respect them – they are a good team – but we’re looking forward to the challenge of facing them, with no fear of them.”
Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The post Ireland no longer fear All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Ireland head into their Chicago showdown with the All Blacks on Saturday carrying something that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago – genuine belief.
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