The beauty of the land of the long white cloud is more stunning on South Island as the sight of the snow laden Mt Cook is a sight to behold, according to Kiwi’s. But it is on the North Island that Ireland will meet the All Blacks on Saturday - in the first of three tests – in as many weeks. For Ireland coach Declan Kidney it offers the opportunity to mastermind a much awaited first victory against the World Champions, which to date shows a record of 24-0 in the hosts favour.
Whether the stadium that just over a year again hosted the 2011 World Cup Final, Eden Park, is to prove that venue remains to be seen in the early hours of Saturday. But there might never be a better chance for Kidney to prove his skill than this game, having apparently lost the chance to coach the Lions next summer to his predecessor Warren Gatland. Could be timely as most of the nation will be distracted by Trapattoni and the EURO 2012 in Poland, so there will be limited pressure 12,000 miles away and out of the full glare of the Irish media.
After a mediocre season Declan Kidney seems to have failed to build on the 2009 Grand Slam foundations and develop the Irish rugby team into a team higher than eighth in the world, trailing behind Argentina – now to be coached by Sir Graham Henry - and RBS 6 Nations partners, Wales and England. To add to any other concerns, Ireland went out in the world cup last October to Wales by 22 points to 10 in the quarter-final in Wellington. Rather meekly it has to be said, despite the emphatic defeat of a Pocock-less Australia in the second game of the tournament in Auckland – who reached the final in the end and long after Ireland had flown home.
In the midst of another rugby world cup cycle. Kidney now has a chance to lay down a marker against the Webb Ellis cup holders. It won’t be easy that is clear and made no easier by the looming shadow of Joe Schmidt, the Leinster Head Coach, probably at home in New Zealand on his holidays.
As a former Auckland Blues coach in the Super 14 and Bay of Plenty, Schmidt is a much sought after man, having helped Leinster secure their third Heineken Cup in four seasons and his name keep popping up for some key rugby posts. It is a list which has not excluded Ireland either – if rumour and media reports are to be believed. Which is no surprise given that the Leinster have whitewashed every team in Europe this season – bar the meeting with Fofana and Clermont - to set a pace and tone at European Cup Rugby that has not been matched since Declan Kidney himself set off with Munster.
In listening to the reverence that Leo Cullen and the squad speak about their coach, it begs the question whether Ireland can find the same intensity and guile under their manager – and ste up yet another level that is needed for international rugby.
The fall out after the 6 Nations and the quibbles about a lack of a scrimmaging coach was unusual, given that Munster started on their European campaign years ago with little more than vim and vigour. Their outstanding achievements were all based on those limited resources, and the results are plain to see in the record books, and never was a complaint ever uttered.
And as Tours go this one for Ireland is as tough as it can get with the first meeting in Auckland on June 9th, the second within seven days in Christchurch, with the final decider in Waikato on June 23rd. No midweek games, no distractions and no other concerns other than 240 minutes of rugby against the world’s best XV. Who now will have at their disposal Dan Carter and Richie McCaw – even if they have left of the squad the in form Andy Ellis of Crusaders, to some critical acclaim. Indeed, just looking at the full squad would make anyone tremble especially when Ireland are struggling with the fitness of Mike Ross ahead of the first game.
Having flown to New Zealand already on the light side of experience, with some stalwarts left at home due to injury – Paul O’Connell, Stephen Ferris, Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald – the lack of front row options is a blow. Albeit Cian Healy is making a good recovery according to the updated medical bulletins.
But in a country that invented the hardest of rugby men in the mould of Wayne "Buck" Shelford, you certainly do not want to face the 80 minutes after the Hakka with other than your strongest fifteen warriors - to have any chance against the All Blacks. More especially if you are seeking that first ever win.
However as events highlighted in Newcastle on Tuesday night, anything is possible as a rain soaked match saw Scotland defeat Australia by 6 points to 9. Or more to the point Ireland's U-23 win in the IRB Junior World Championship by 23-19 over hosts South Africa on the same day.
For the Irish manager though the achievements of Tony McGahan at Munster and the much praised Schmidt offer their own added pressure. As indeed is the work of Eric Elwood at Connacht and the success of Michael Bradley at Edinburgh, given it all enhances a sense of the clock ticking around Kidney's tenure, which reaches into its fifth season. His skills at melding the talents of the provinces into the Irish system will be critical this weekend, and his ability to building on that existing belief of the provinces to take on New Zealand.
All not much different to what Steve Hansen will do with his Super 14 players in their All Blank jersey. None of whom want either to be the names in that first team to ever lose to Ireland.
On Saturday Ireland will take to the same field where they recorded that famous win over Australia in 2011 which just might be the added motivation they need. A point not lost on ERC player of the Year Rob Kearney when interviewed recently.
"[Saturday] is our best chance because it is our next chance. And if the first Test doesn't go our way then the one after that will be our best chance again after that."
"It was a huge occasion for us to turn over Australia in a World Cup.” Kearney said
“As players, we always believe that we can match it with the best teams in the world when we turn up and we play good rugby.
"As a player and as a team, you have to believe that."
"We set a bar there in that game, a standard, and it is important for us to keep matching that."
©OSM
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