Ex-All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald believes that Ireland can look so slick in games that it almost seems as if you are watching their training session.
New Zealand will face Andy Farrell’s men in Chicago this weekend, looking to gain revenge for their 2016 loss in the same city.
The All Blacks perhaps have the edge, given that they only recently finished their Rugby Championship campaign, but Donald certainly has a huge amount of respect for the Irish.
Since that success at Soldier Field nine years ago – their first ever win over the All Blacks – Ireland have sealed four more victories over the All Blacks.
That includes claiming a 2-1 series victory in New Zealand in 2022 but, since then, the Kiwis have emerged triumphant in the following two encounters.
Ireland’s lack of preparation
They will be favourites for Saturday’s match with Ireland’s players having little game time, even at provincial level, ahead of their duel with Scott Robertson’s outfit.
It may therefore be difficult for them to be as fluid as they can be but, as Donald states, Farrell’s side are a joy to watch when they get it right.
“The Irish are a team that gel so well. They’re all in sync and when you’re talking about being in sync and being a team, the thing that Ireland have done so well, previously with Joe Schmidt and now with Farrell, over the last few years is they’ve all got their jobs to do and they nail it all perfectly,” the 2011 Rugby World Cup hero said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
“When Ireland is absolutely humming, they are doing all of that. They are all in sync, the forwards are doing what they need to do and people are at the right rucks.
“What this allows is for their game to flow. If you sit back and watch Ireland, sometimes they are so good to watch because it is so clinical and methodical but done at pace. That’s because everyone knows their role and everyone is in the right spot, and they can just roll through it.
“At times when you’re watching, when they are absolutely humming, it feels like you might have slipped into an Irish training session, it looks that good.
“The challenge for the All Blacks is to take them out of it and to take them out of their system and their rhythm which, as I said, at times it feels like they’re at a training session.”
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