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It is back to where it started for Ireland. And by “it” we mean any kind of success against the All Blacks. With that, of course, comes credibility on the world stage, a status they still enjoy.
On Saturday night, UK and Ireland time, afternoon in the United States, Ireland take on New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Before any considerations of team news and vibes, the words Ireland, New Zealand and Soldier Field will transport many a rugby fan back not quite nine years. On 5 November 2016, Ireland, at the 29th time of asking, finally prevailed over the All Blacks, 111 years after their first shot at them. And how. No ugly scrap by a plucky underdog here, but an exhilarating 40 points and five tries under a Chicago sun.
Even more poignant than the result in front of delirious Irish expats was the way Ireland lined up when facing the haka. Anthony Foley, the beloved No 8 when Ireland and Munster first emerged from the amateur era to stake a claim to pre-eminence in the professional one, had died suddenly in his sleep three weeks earlier. As the All Blacks performed their pre-match ritual, Ireland stood in a figure of eight, quiet, emotional and resolute, in one of the more beautiful moments in sport. How could they not win after that?
Ireland had already tasted success in Europe by that point, a grand slam and two Six Nations wins, not to mention the European titles won by Ulster, Munster and Leinster, but the All Blacks are the standard. If we include that win in 2016 (followed two weeks later by defeat to same in Dublin), the ledger since reads five wins apiece. Parity indeed. In the current world rankings, the All Blacks are second, 0.19 ranking points ahead of Ireland in third.
Furthermore, that ledger read Ireland five, New Zealand three not so long ago. And then the quarter-final, in Paris, of the Rugby World Cup happened, a fabulous weekend for rugby fans in general, the darkest of days if you were an Irish one. For all Ireland’s success of late, they have yet to plot a path past a quarter-final. New Zealand, of course, know that path only too well.
Not that anyone really knows where the current teams stand. Both might be considered in transition, or about to enter such a phase. The latest Ireland debutant is likely to be Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy, who takes a place on the bench. Alongside him will sit last season’s new boy, Sam Prendergast, who makes way for the man who first attempted to replace Johnny Sexton at fly-half, Jack Crowley, the latter rewarded for his excellent form for Munster.
Caelan Doris will also sit on that bench. Ireland’s captain last season makes his comeback from a shoulder injury suffered six months ago in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton. Bundee Aki, shaking off an injury himself, is another big hitter on the bench. Dan Sheehan will captain the side.
For New Zealand, Beauden Barrett returns from injury to play fly-half in one of four changes to the side that finished the Rugby Championship with victory over Australia. Jack Lord comes in at lock for the injured Patrick Tuipulotu.
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Eddie Jones – remember him? – reminded us he is still in there swinging, when he suggested this week that Ireland might be on the way down from their recent success. Jones is back in town with the Japan team, attempting to mastermind a repeat of possibly the greatest upset of all time. No one should need reminding of the day Japan beat the Springboks under a Brighton sun, the year before Chicago 2016.
The pair meet at Wembley on Saturday. The Springboks, top of the world rankings with the latest Rugby Championship title in their kit bag, are not going in lightly, packed with familiar names, but they do offer a debut to Zach Porthen, the 21-year-old tighthead. Jones makes two changes to the Japan side that lost narrowly to Australia in Tokyo last weekend.
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Scotland prepare for their latest shot at beating New Zealand for the first time (32 attempts, 120 years) when they host the improving USA. Duhan van der Merwe wins his 50th cap in a side captained by Stafford McDowall. Liam McConnell makes his debut at flanker.
