Former Leinster coach and outspoken pundit Matt Williams believes that Ireland should not be judged on their performances and results in November.<\/p>\n
Andy Farrell\u2019s men began their series with a disappointing 26-13 defeat to the All Blacks having led the contest with 20 minutes remaining.<\/p>\n
It was effectively this side\u2019s first match since the Six Nations due to the British and Irish Lions tour which had significant Irish<\/a> representation.<\/p>\n Many of those stars also had little game time leading into the clash and it perhaps showed in that final quarter as New Zealand<\/a>, who were battle hardened following the Rugby Championship, finished the stronger.<\/p>\n Ireland should be \u2018judged after the Six Nations\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, what do you expect after you supply so many players to a Lions tour? You then have to rehabilitate them, get their time off, do their training \u2013 that Irish team is nowhere near ready for Test match rugby, and it\u2019s not going to be for the rest of November,\u201d Williams told Off The Ball.<\/p>\n \u201cThis season should only be judged after the Six Nations because that\u2019s what they\u2019re training for.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no way that team was ready and we saw it in the last 20. They didn\u2019t fall apart but the margins are so fine.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not a great New Zealand side but it is a very competent New Zealand side, and in the last 20 they piled on the pressure and Ireland couldn\u2019t live with it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey also had the adversity of having to play with a man down for 20 minutes with the very, very unfortunate red card for Tadhg Beirne \u2013 that was very tough \u2013 but all those things added up.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks great slams Tadhg Beirne\u2019s \u2018absolute joke\u2019 red card and issues warning to World Rugby<\/a><\/p>\n