The autumn internationals got underway on Saturday with a controversial Bledisloe Cup III encounter between New Zealand and Australia, in which the prevailing All Blacks became just the third side in history to achieve 18 victories in a row. The result looks ominous for Ireland, who play Steve Hansen’s New Zealand squad on Bonfire Night.
The Bledisloe Cup
New Zealand beat the Wallabies fair and square (37-10) in Auckland but a baffling decision from the television official might have played its part on the night. Brumbies’ winger, Henry Speight, had a try ruled out after Australia’s Dane Haylett-Petty was alleged to have obstructed Julian Savea, a try that would have kept the game at 15-all.
The incident, which ultimately changed little (ignoring the All Blacks’ record-breaking streak, Australia haven’t won at Eden Park in two decades and their 12-44 record in the Bledisloe isn’t anything to write home about), kept relations between the two teams frosty. A Kiwi newspaper’s depiction of Wallabies’ coach, Michael Cheika, as a clown didn’t help matters.
New Zealand now face Ireland at Chicago’s iconic 65,000 capacity stadium, Soldier Field. And the outcome may be something of a foregone conclusion. Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in 111 years of trying (they drew 10-10 in 1973 but lost the other 27 games) and the latest rugby betting odds aren’t sympathetic to Joe Schmidt’s side.
“Soldier Field, Chicago” (CC BY 2.0) by John Picken
Barry McGann
It’s hardly a slight on Ireland though; the current All Blacks side is arguably the greatest in the country’s history. They’ve won four of the last five Rugby Championships and the last two Rugby World Cups, and have a good shout at keeping their current win streak going until the end of the year, with just France, Italy, and Ireland in their way.
That said, Ireland have pushed New Zealand close on a number of occasions. Their 1973 draw and 2013 loss were both lost to a kick (the wind took Barry McGann’s at the death in the former while, in the latter, Jonathan Sexton kicked wide with six minutes left to run on a favourable 22-17). It was a recurring nightmare for Sexton; he failed to convert in similar circumstances in a 2012 clash with the All Blacks.
“rugby world cup 2011 new zealand france” (CC BY 2.0) by Jean Francois Fournier Photographe
Youth System
Schmidt could do worse than take the autumn internationals for what they are – an opportunity. Ireland don’t have much coming through the youth system at present (only 5% of players who make the U20 side break the senior squad, according to the Irish Times) but the youngsters available to Schmidt this November are promising.
Ireland may want to field a more experienced squad for the game against the Kiwis on November 5th but a match like Canada (on November 12th) should be a chance for Ulster player, Jacob Stockdale, Leinster centre, Garry Ringrose, and his teammate, Dan Leavy, for example, to make a pitch for the senior side.
Ireland will play New Zealand for a second time on November 19th before rounding off the month in Dublin on the 26th, with a visit from Cheika’s Wallabies.