The All Blacks v Ireland World Cup quarterfinal rematch is being billed as a Godzilla vs Kong clash.
The All Blacks haven’t beaten Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium since 2016.
Heck, even head coach Scott Robertson couldn’t help but be impressed as an Irish reporter paint what some might describe as a bleak picture for the All Blacks not only did he use words like “anger” and “atonement” when describing how Ireland were approaching the match, he indicated officials were applying touches at Aviva Stadium not seen in the past.
Robertson and his players, of course, should not require an advance warning.
Nor should they be surprised if centre Rieko Ioane is booed each and every time he touches the ball after his stoush with Ireland great Johnny Sexton.
Not only are they facing the top-rated side in the world on their home soil, they’re facing a team that, despite downplaying their thirst to avenge last year’s World Cup quarterfinal defeat to the All Blacks, will without a doubt be fuelled by the hurt that pumped through their veins a little more than a year ago.
Regardless, with the All Blacks yet to flatter during Robertson’s first season in charge of the side, Ian Foster’s replacement is staring down the barrel of his biggest test since his side lost both Rugby Championship games to the world champion Springboks in South Africa in September.
Both sides are stacked with players who featured in last year’s tense quarterfinal, which the All Blacks only sealed after rebuffing a sweeping 37-phase raid that soaked up more than five minutes.
Both are also without key players.
All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor (concussion) and Irish counterpart Dan Sheehan (knee) are both out, as is All Blacks pivot Beauden Barrett (concussion) and Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong (hamstring).
Ireland host the All Blacks at 8.10 tomorrow morning.
Source: Stuff
