'We sort of owe them one' - All Blacks haven't forgotten 2016 and 2018 defeats to Ireland
Ahead of New Zealand’s blockbuster quarterfinal against Ireland, the defending champions haven’t forgotten that night in Dublin last November where they were usurped in an Irish siege.
Hooker Dane Coles came off the bench that night, returning to rugby on that tour after a horror run of injuries that plighted nearly two years of his career. Having pushed through that adversity, Coles knows when you have to put some things behind you, which is what he says is important for the All Blacks to do now.
“We were beaten by the better team. We are not making excuses because it was the end of our season. We never have (made excuses). We just lost the game. They took their chances, and we didn’t,” he recalled to the media of the 2018 encounter.
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“I hope it doesn’t happen again. It’s important we don’t look back. World Cups are different. They (Ireland) get the same respect, because they have knocked us, but it’s very different in the World Cup.”
The All Blacks aren’t sure how Ireland are thinking after they stuttered through pool play, being upset by hosts Japan who ended up the top qualifier. Although they have had success over New Zealand recently, a World Cup is a very different environment which Ireland has found out once again.
“I’m not sure how they’re thinking. They’ve got a recipe to put us under pressure but we all know that being at a World Cup is very different.”
Coles’ history with Ireland goes back to 2013 when many Irish fans will remember the last pass he delivered to Ryan Crotty for the extra-time try that silenced 80,000 fans at the Aviva to rob Ireland of what would have been their first-ever win over New Zealand.
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That was a lifetime ago before Coles’ first World Cup-experience, a triumph on England soil as the All Blacks went back-t0-back in 2015. When asked to compare the two World Cups, Coles says it is definitely not any easier.
“Definitely not easier. As you get older the carcass takes a bit longer to warm up. It’s exciting. I have the same excitement as I did in 2015.”
Another All Black front-rower, Joe Moody, wasn’t part of last year’s 16-9 loss but was a member of the 2016 side that got trumped in Chicago by Ireland for the first time ever.
“I suppose it’s a little bit at the back of your mind,” he said of Ireland’s recent success over New Zealand.
“It just reminds you we sort of owe them one but, at the same time, it’s not something we dwell on or focus on. They have got a couple on us in recent history but it wouldn’t matter who we’re playing this week. We have to win.”
Moody’s second career outing against Ireland was the return test in Dublin that many dubbed a ‘thuggish’ retribution as the All Blacks’ sought vengeance. If that match is anything to go by, the All Blacks will be looking to lift the intensity levels to make up for the 2018 result.
Although with a World Rugby crackdown on high tackles,
they cannot afford to be as reckless as in that 2016 Dublin test, which saw the team criticised for multiple high shots. Moody knows the side will be very disciplined in the contact area.“We know you just can’t afford to go anywhere near the head. It’s very black and white.”
One man that will be in the All Blacks sights is reigning World Player of the Year Jonathan Sexton, who is so integral to Ireland’s success. Flanker Matt Todd was pretty blunt about confirming their plan is to put him under pressure.
“You want to try to put the playmaker under pressure but it’s easier said than done. That’s certainly our plan. We want to take away his time, take away his space and make it as hard for him as we can because he’s such a key player for them,” he said.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
37 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to comments