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Zac Ward: 'Ah, man, he’s the GOAT; I’ve said it from day one'
It sounds like the great Brian O’Driscoll has some competition regarding his legendary Ireland rugby status. Terry Kennedy is another maestro with quite a reputation, even picking up the World Rugby sevens player of the year award for 2022 at a swanky function in Monaco.
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On Saturday, he added to his legend, opening his box of tricks to score a hat-trick and edge Ireland into the semi-finals at the Hong Kong 7s. He needed just two minutes of a lung-bursting, energy-sapping battle with the USA to initially unleash his talent, racing in to put his team five points up.
Next, he put his team back into a 19-12 lead in the second half with a delicious kick through the American cover which he enthusiastically latched onto when winning the ensuing sprint to dive on the ball as it bobbled over the line.
That looked to be that. However, the USA levelled and after the crowd was entertained by Zombie playing over the PA system during the break, the knockout game required two and a half minutes of extra time before Kennedy unleashed greatness once more, executing another kick and chase to perfection – this time into an adoring South Stand who revelled in the Dubliner’s brilliance.
“Ah, man, he’s the GOAT,” beamed Zac Ward to RugbyPass at the edge of the stadium tunnel while man of the moment Kennedy was working his way through a heap of selfie and autograph requests from overjoyed fans.
FAN CLUB: Terry Kennedy was a hero in demand after his extra-time winner sent Ireland to the Hong Kong semi-finals with a 24-19 victory over USA ???? #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s @Ireland7s #IrishRugby
Catch all the action live on RugbyPass TV… pic.twitter.com/jmLf6OaFAm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2024
“I’ve said it from day one he is the GOAT, the best player I have ever played with. So I am just thankful he is on our team and not on the other team. He practices, it’s not flukey. He practices them all the time, so it just shows that practice makes perfect.”
Ward was no slouch when it came to Kennedy’s support cast. He scored the try that gave Ireland a 12-7 first-half lead and his vigilance was needed with the Americans threatening at 19-all and the game entering its final minute.
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First, he crucially bundled the probing Madison Hughes into touch and then caught the resulting lineout to give Ireland one last chance to try and win it in normal time.
That attack came to nothing, but Ward winning his share of the smaller battles fed into the bigger picture, eventually tipping a frantic seven-try classic Ireland’s way.
“Definitely, that is what we are all about. Small things lead to the big things. Hopefully, we can carry that on in the semi-final and final.
“It was exhausting, trust me. The humidity just gets to everybody so as long as we can keep the ball and put teams through phases, they are probably hurting a bit more than we are. So that’s the game plan anyway.”
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While Kennedy was the South Stand’s extra-time hero, Ward himself scored at that end of the ground in the first half. “It was class. The energy and the buzz you get running towards that South Stand, you can’t compare it to anything, it’s unbelievable.”
Wining in extra time wasn’t new to Ireland, but there was no better place than Hong Kong to go that bit extra. “It’s massive. Hong Kong is one of our favourite events, so we’ll keep feeding off the buzz and keep going.
“That’s a TK special” ?
Terry Kennedy helping @Ireland7s to the semifinal ?#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSHKG https://t.co/sjykxxe3Vy pic.twitter.com/regP6yJPjr
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) April 6, 2024
“We have won (in extra time) once or twice, we know how to sometimes get it done. Hopefully, we don’t have to go to extra time anymore.”
Ireland lost a seventh-place play-off to the USA last year in Hong Kong. Revenge has now been taken for that, and the next quest is to get one back on France as it was in Los Angeles last month when the French beat the Irish 26-24 in a cracker-jack semi-final.
“It’s put the feet up and enjoy, get a feed, go to bed and get ready for Sunday,” said Ward ahead of the semi-final that will have a 13:40 local time kick-off (6:40 Irish time) live on RugbyPass TV.
It’s the latest development in an exciting year for the Ward family. Zac’s younger brother Bryn has been a regular with the Ireland U20s, cheered on by their famous father Andy, the New Zealander who was a 1999 Heineken Cup winner with Ulster who was capped in the Irish back row around that same time by Warren Gatland.
“Definitely, the brother is flying with the 20s at the minute. The two of us bounce off each other really well,” said Ward, adding he isn’t short of support in the Far East this weekend. “I have a few friends. And Ethan McElroy, his dad is out here so it’s nice to have someone from home out supporting.”
- Click here to follow all the action live from Hong Kong on RugbyPass TV
"Man, he's the GOAT. Best player I've ever played with… it's not flukey."
– Ireland forward Zac Ward on the brilliance of match winner Terry Kennedy, from Liam Heagney ?? in Hong Kong. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s @Ireland7s #IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/3Kvc2izzl2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
This article should have been written immediately after the final, not half a year later. While the content of the article is accurate with the references to the cruel bounce to Savea right before the try line, Etzebeth’s cynical infringement, and the inconsistent cards, some of the hyperbole emotional statements are unnecessary and gaslighting. The fact remains that the Springboks took their scoring opportunities. They had amazing defence throughout the entire match (limiting the ABs to one try is very respectable), their scrum was pretty good and they had quite a solid lineout despite having a part-time hooker throwing the ball in. Let’s give credit where credit is due and move forward. The Springboks won because they know how to win big games through strong defence and kicking, and they had lady luck on their side on the day. The All Blacks miraculously made the final despite everyone’s predictions and could’ve won the whole damn thing with 14 men who should’ve taken better advantage of their scoring chances and committed less mistakes (shoddy lineouts, dropped balls, some poor kicks and passing, etc), and an average coach and captain with some questionable tactics (Jordie kicking for goal late in the game from a dodgy position and perhaps the wrong game plan overall). Time to move on.
7 Go to commentsThere’s no doubt the All Blacks were the better team on the day, but it’s not enough to be better, you also have to have luck.
7 Go to commentsI dunno, Ben. It does feel a little like you are just in denial that the Springboks are really good. Good enough to win two straight world cups.
7 Go to commentsAre we still talking about the World Cup final in May? The final took place more than 6 months ago. Isn’t it time to move on?
7 Go to commentsIt looks like the trauma counseling is not helping the Ben Smith troll much. He is still trying to convince his little brain that his loser team won the RWC.
7 Go to commentsOh dear, Jon. Ben Smith’s Saffer clickbait was at least backed up by some rationale!
7 Go to commentsThe more direct approach to your past time this time I see Ben. Look, it doesn’t need to be said, anyone watching the match knows the ABs played better and just got robbed by the officiating, but lets face it, their dominance in the match was only because South Africa choked and forgot how to play rugby with the ball. South Africa were still the better side. Of course Ireland and France were also better sides that New Zealand. Possibly even England on WC performances.
7 Go to commentsGreat mythology - no surprises Ox didn't talk about being driven backwards by Laulala in the RWC final!
4 Go to commentsJust shows how a hand up can help as long as the invitation is accepted. Good story.
1 Go to commentsKarma is a powerful force
21 Go to commentsFrench players said the same thing to the All Blacks after their pool match in 2011. But the French can back up their s**t talk with action.
71 Go to commentsThe problem is the officiating & changing rulings,& TMOs.Last weekend I saw a 9 penalized for a crooked scrum feed! the last time I saw that rule applied was In about 1975!!!!!!!!.Late or not the incident is history & Australians alleging that Kiwi rugby supporters wear eye patches is a bit rich.Try listening to Australian Commentators.Every new player who has an above average game is suddenly the next great sensation.
21 Go to commentsEvery Irish fan in the stadium celebrated like they had won the tournament after the SA and Scotland games so yeah, the way Etzebeth tells it stacks up. It was definitely ‘In Their Heads’!
71 Go to commentsEtsebeth is right about 1 thing. Boks after winning a RWC have been crap. Only in 2009 did they reach the heights of what a RWC Champion should look like but that was only after 3rd/last in the TriN 2008. Lost a home series in 1996 (vs ABs); didnt win even 1 x Rugby Championship after 2019. ABs and Wallabies and England at least played like Champions after winning RWC.
71 Go to commentsCrusaders will knock one of the top seeds out in the first round, hope it’s not my Chiefs
28 Go to commentsEben really seems like just a deeply unpleasant man.
71 Go to commentsDMac. BB crabs too much at 10.
4 Go to commentsIt is every boys dream to be a Springbok. I managed it in a discipline other than rugby…But rugby, I have always engaged with passion. It does my old heart good to see the mix of people in the team and this displays the possibilities for this wonderful country. The logo “stronger together” says it all. This current edition of the Boks is nothing short of inspirational.
4 Go to commentsIrish people about the best damn people on the planet. OK, in the NH. Fijians are the World’s best happiest friendliest people. But as far as European cultures producing good people, Ireland stands alone. But on the rugby pitch there is a creeping arrogance that has detached from humility. eg Sexton abusing a match referee, and not for the 1st time. He was extremely lucky to make it to the RWC, strings were pulled. And O’Mahoneys sledge to Cane was lowballing, attacking an opposition Captain seems opportunistic and gutter talk. Cane is a real gentleman. Have never seen ABs unleash after the whistle like they did on O’Mahoney after QterF, it was well deserved. Unlike Bok supporters, the Bok players understand history. Massive amount of respect between Boks and ABs is evident, they get on well and have throughout history. Even Pinetree Meads best mate (except his old cobber Kel Tremain) were Springboks, friendships forged after tours. And Meads was always targetted given his star status (he even played 2 x Tests with a broken arm). On the contrary, ABs and Wallabies famously dont get on, bad blood after Aussies not taking offer of beersies postmatch.
71 Go to commentsHaha god NZ journalism is so crap listen to this guy “We’ll be proven in a few weeks if our baseless bs can stick” lol Everywhere else uses experts to write stuff but here they’re just career guys that don’t care about what they write, NOT CONCEDED A TRY IN YEARS lol > “Naturally, you’re looking for performance, sometimes that means you can’t think logically or use evidence to arrive at any sort of clarity of decision. Pretty much sums it up to a tee Paul ignores the articles in here about then runs off each team this year, that Penney is just a yearly stop gap until, who, Ellison is released by ABs, the huge imbalance of the injury front between teams at each end of the table, or who it was that _should_ have been coach. But of course if they actually do evidence and investigative work theyre shy of their article not hitting that sensationalism boundary and lose revenue. Leaving us non the wiser. They look like they would have been best with a geeup coach this year to turn around the razorless depression the clubs obviously going through. Hard to think of someone fitting the Bill to have been chosen instead, the clown Cheika? Id have been tempted to double play and entice O’Gara down. Hell maybe that is who they are waiting for, he wants a international gig and it could be after Scmidt or razor
28 Go to comments