Optimum Sports : Alone They Stand

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Ma’a Nonu had a nightmare game by his high standards. Richie McCaw was relatively quiet until the dying minutes at the AVIVA Stadium. Kieran Read less effective throughout most of the game until the clock reached the red zone. Ryan Crotty grabbing the newspaper headlines with a late try with most of the 50,000 Irish fans struggling to even know his name. The resulting defeat leaving that infamous 1978 day in Munster where it has remained for decades - Alone in the record books.

Such is the want in this World cup winning All Blacks team that is not an option to loose seemingly. And if winning the Webb Ellis trophy again was the hardest thing for the team, after their first victory in 1987. Then retaining it is even more demanding no doubt. Indeed fourteen straights games unbeaten in one season sets its own record for a group of players over the years that have made it hard even for record makers to find new goals to stat hem.

But as Captain Richie McCaw explained afterwards, the self belief was always there.

And indeed it was. More especially in the final 45 seconds of game time McCaw proved pivotal on a few occasions in the last movement - keeping the ball alive. As did Reid and ultimately Nonu. The All Blacks relying on possession and their high energy levels highlighting that percentage difference on the day. However minute, when a rare loss of 19 points in the first half set up the Ireland New Zealand clash in Dublin to be record breaking. Whatever the outcome.

History will deem that first half result irrelevant when noted beside the final score.

However the attitude of the Irish players, from the Tullow Tank to captain Paul O’Connell clearly reflected a winning mind-set. And that there are no glorious victories when you lose the scoreboard battle. As coach Jose Schmidt clearly said, Ireland were within seconds of history. But in the end it doesn’t matter. Albeit against the nation of his birth.

His competitive instincts are such that to take the win against New Zealand would have been a valuable addition to his already bursting rugby CV.

For Brian O’Driscoll the end was truly desperate. The only achievement still absent from a phenomenal career and one that almost came his way. Even as he was off the pitch. But almost was not enough. And it never is most sportspeople will tell you. Yet it was a game that had enough or everything else, from the very stunning start Ireland had with Conor Murray’s try early on. Followed by Rory Best’s additional five points soon afterwards, all washed down with Rob Kearney’s try after an 80 metre sprint.

All followed by some well taken kicks by Ireland out half Jonny Sexton.

It will be a lonely return flight to Paris for the former Leinster player as it was his kick that separated the sides in the end. As I was a width of a rugby goalpost that’s separated his last kick, with his late penalty missing inches right. Had it gone over then then it might have been just enough.

It would have no doubt left the gap too wide for even McCaw to chase, as two scores would have been night impossible in the dying minutes. But a gap of one score always left some hope for the Land of the Long White Cloud. And that chance then came alive after Murray kicked high from 60 metres to give the ball back to New Zealand and send them on their way.

And what might have seemed a safe option quickly looked ominous when referee Nigel Owens awarded the visitors a penalty. Which when quickly taken by McCaw was called back only for Aaron Smith to take, and led to the build up to Crotty's final score.

Whether the Kiwis were truly relieved or not it is hard to tell such is their self-belief and their winning ways. Defeat for them never seems an option and as the best coaches say, winning can become a habit for top teams. When it does the results can be freakish are clear and in the current New Zealand side that is all too self-evident. As this tour has proven as they have overturned Japan, France, England and finally Ireland.

Each game though showing that they are beatable on any given day. Yet no country managed to do it this time round. Allowing the All Blacks add another world record to their already lengthy achievements. But to beat them opponents have to be at their very best until the final whistle and the clock is stopped.

At the AVIVA Ireland were at their very best with stalwarts like Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Cian Healy having the game of their lives. With a supporting cast of the two Kearney brothers, Murray and the rest of the pack. Where James Heaslip dominated McCaw, along with Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony. All three having outstanding performances on the day. All only seven days after being easily dispatched by the Australian visitors.

From an outsiders view it could have looked like a bit of a hussle in fact.

The summer Downunder has also made some of Ireland's finest savour victory in the toughest of quarters. That win by the 2013 Lions against the Wallabies in the third test in Sydney a great boost for Tommy Bowe, O’Brien and Murray. As it was indeed for BOD, O’Connell and Rob Kearney who will have lived, even off the field, an achievement that had eluded the Northern Hemisphere for 16 years. To vanquish that demon at the ANZ Stadium that first week in July opened up many doors in the mind no doubt with the belief that no team is invincible.

So it seemed when Schmidt’s XV took to the field on Sunday in Dublin and only undone perhaps by the production line of players that the All Blacks always seem to produce on any given day, Even if we have never ever heard off them. In this case the indomitable Israel Dagg went off and was replaced by Ryan Crotty. Who in the end did the honours.

In time it may become a good pub quiz question if Crotty’s career goes no further. But for the moment that try puts the fullback on the path of All Black immortality having taken them to the fourteenth successive win in the one year.

A feat unmatched by any other team on the history of the game.

So alone they stand.