2023-10-11 12:04:35
If the expression “early end” has a reason, it is because of games like this. For many others it is the cotton test for a Ireland with traces of champion who must overcome his everlasting complex in the Rugby World Cups, where he has not gone past the quarterfinals. If we look at the precedents, five of the last eight confrontations between the two ended in green, which has relativized the aura of some All Blacks whose hinges creak in defense.
El factor Schmidt
Everyone’s eyes are on Joe Schmidt, Kiwi coach Ian Foster’s assistant. For many, he was the culprit of the qualitative leap of those from the Emerald Island during his stay in Hibernian lands, from 2013 to 2019. But from the Irish headquarters, the team’s veterans have already taken it upon themselves to warn that “this Farrell’s Ireland is completely different with a new coaching staff.” Being true, which it is, it seems that Schmidt knows too many intimacies about the Irish, the same as Greg Feek, the current New Zealand scrum boss, who was also Ireland’s scrum boss.
The green infirmary is relieved at times for the match and both Lowe and Hansen, the Irish wings, in addition to Earls and Henshaw, would be available for the clash. Another topic is James Ryan, whose doll is the center of concern throughout Ireland, from Belfast to Dublin, right now. In New Zealand, Lomax’s knee injury is the most disturbing.
The party faces a dominant Ireland that must take careful care of transcendental points of its game such as touch, the most fertile relaunch platform for Farrell’s team. Heights are one of the All Blacks’ strong points, with the greens also coming from a poor performance from the corridor against South Africa. If the Kiwis pull the plug on the side irish, from where Sexton activates his line, and they manage to sterilize the pressure kicks of 10 and those of a Lowe with notable prominence with the foot they will have a lot of gain. The appearance in the hallways, exterior and interior, of Hansen and Keenan is another of the issues that Foster’s have to take care of. To that we must add the industrial power of a pack green that gives no respite to rivals and will demand the best version of a New Zealand lazier behind. Precisely The focus is there, on the Kiwi defensive weakness, pointing out an archaic system implemented by his defensive coach, Scott McLeod.
On the other hand, Ireland would be wrong not to refine their game because any slight margin they give the All Blacks to attack will be digging their grave. If the New Zealanders have shown anything in this World Cup, it is that with the ball in their hands they are probably the most devastating team, with France’s permission. If the Kiwis go on the attack, Ireland will have to surf a tsunami. And that never ends well. This game could be the last in the black shirt of a dazzling generation of players like Dane Coles, Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and who knows if even Sam Cane or Beauden Barrett himself. And when the World Cup is over Foster will make way for Scott Robertson who will carry out a notable renovation of the Kiwi script and squad.
Duels in the stands, haka or Zombie
In the stands there will be another huge duel between the supporters of the New Zealand haka, which is losing followers in Europe as its teams have a chance of beating them, and the populous green fans that have changed the festive ‘Sweet Caroline’ for the protesting ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries, a song that the late Dolores O’Riodran wrote after an IRA attack, which took away two children, to distance herself from the terrorists. “A song to peace” that hurling adopted as its own and Irish rugby has integrated into its songbook at this Rugby World Cup in France, where those of Saint Patrick have also been encouraged by another musical anthem on the green island, the venerated ‘Dirty old town’ by The Pogues.
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Two countries that build their story at different moments in their history. Israel Dagg warned that “we are losing the heart and foundations of the rugby in New Zealand because clubs are closing. Now kids don’t want to be All Blacks anymore. And our U-20 team, which had won six World Cups, has been seventh in the last two tournaments.” While in Ireland rugby has been structured looking at the New Zealand model, thanks in part to people like Schmidt, and is enjoying the best health in its history. From England, a fierce enemy, the elegant Jeremy Guscott pointed out a few days ago that “Ireland can dominate world rugby with this system and this structure for years.”
More than the clash of two hemispheres, it is the crossing of two rugby galaxies, two lineages in antagonistic moments that will still offer what will probably be the World Cup match by game, by expectations, by the significance of its result whatever it may be… . A match with almost philosophical overtones. Will Ireland overcome its Sisifemia? Will the All Blacks once again break the predictions that they consider amortized? The match of matches.
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