Ireland’s first-choice No 9 loves playing against his New Zealand brothers but before that happens on Saturday week, the squad’s Leinster party are dealing with a chastening Croke Park experience
Jamison Gibson-Park(Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher)
Ireland’s 2027 World Cup bid starts now, says Jamison Gibson-Park – but first Andy Farrell’s big Leinster contingent are dealing with a reality check.
Usually it is the Blues brothers who have bragging rights coming into international camp but this time it was different after Munster lorded it over them at Croke Park on Saturday night.
“You’re right, it’s normally the other way around,” said Gibson-Park. “They’re giving us a bit of a stick, but it’s fully deserved. They were great winners on the weekend. I think it’s great for the state of the game in Ireland, they put out a pretty solid performance and they were by far the better team, so I think they deserved it for sure.”
So before the 22-strong Leinster party in Andy Farrell’s squad left for Chicago yesterday, there were plenty of wounds licked. They left Croker with Leo Cullen’s ‘own it’ message ringing in their ears. Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty described the 31-14 defeat for the URC champions as a ‘massive kick up the arse’ on Monday.
Gibson-Park isn’t shying away from it. “Yeah, it’s certainly something we mentioned after the game,” he said. “It’s a bit of a reality check for us, really. For a lot of us it was our first time out (this season) and we felt as though we prepared well, but we obviously hadn’t because they’re by far the better team.
“It’s been a slow start to the season for us. It’s kind of a stop-go thing. We were late into camp, the Lions guys, and then the boys went away to South Africa. It’s just been very stop-start. I’m not making excuses, but it’s been a tough start and then we’re back in here. Hopefully we can hit our straps by the time we’re back in together again at Christmas time.
“We’re going to kind of have to. Certainly as the Leinster guys, when we get back it’ll be straight into Europe, so there’s no real chances to build into anything. You’ve got to get going. We’re lucky we’ve got a couple of weeks training now and hopefully build into a solid performance next weekend.”
He’s referring to the Gallagher Cup collision with New Zealand, a reunion of the sides at Soldier Field for the first time since Ireland’s historic first win over the All Blacks in 2016. The Kiwi-born and bred scrum-half wasn’t yet eligible to play for Ireland and was on holiday in Italy when that game was played.
Ireland’s Conor Murray celebrates Robbie Henshaw’s try in the victory over the All Blacks on November 5, 2016(Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
But he reflected: “It’s pretty well cemented in my memory, like most Irish rugby fans. It was a pretty special day for Irish rugby and one most of us won’t forget. It looked as though it was a pretty special day to be a part of the (Anthony) Foley tribute and all that kind of stuff. It’s a massive occasion for us going back to where it all went down, so we’re sure looking forward to it.”
With four Test games to come, Farrell is framing this November series as the start of Ireland’s World Cup build-up with less than two years to go. “Things are starting to build towards that a little bit but, in the same breath, you’ve got to get good at falling in love with the process,” said Gibson-Park.
“It’s very much a next game mindset, like we always say. There is that little carrot down the road to look at, but there are many games to come before that. It is something we mentioned, that two-year mark. A lot of teams have started to look towards the next World Cup and it certainly felt that way in the meeting a little bit.
“It was a bit of a refresher. We’ve already brought in some new stuff this week that we are working on for the next couple of weeks. It’s exciting times, for sure.”
Now an Irish citizen, the 33-year-old can’t wait to face old friends and foes again. He recalls it feeling a bit strange to face the Haka for the first time but doesn’t feel like he is singled out for extra treatment because he is a New Zealander.
“It’s one I always mark down and want to be a part of, I absolutely love it,” he smiled. “I absolutely love coming up against those guys. I suppose it dates back to my childhood, the kind of brotherly rivalry or whatever. I would have had massive rivalries with my brothers growing up and this is kind of a little bit the same.
“I would have played with and against a lot of these guys when I was younger, so I kind of get that feel, it’s like the interpros as well – I absolutely love being a part of those games, so this one will be no different.”