adminDUBLIN – The Irish media yesterday saluted the indomitable spirit of the history-making New Zealand side that denied their team a historic victory in Sunday’s memorable 24-22 Test match win at Lansdowne Road. Ireland great Tony Ward, who was a pivotal member of the Munster side that beat the All Blacks in 1978 and remain the only Irish team to have achieved that feat, said the self belief running through the New Zealanders should not come as a surprise to anyone.
They looked like they were down and out with the Irish leading 22-17 and in possession deep in their half with less than a minute to go but they got a penalty and moved the ball downfield for Ryan Crotty to score a try – which Aaron Cruden converted at the second opportunity. It ensured the All Blacks became the first side in the professional era to win all their Test matches in a calendar year.
“Courage and conviction had taken them out of a losing hole,” Ward wrote in the Irish Independent.
“It’s a bitterly disappointing defeat for Ireland, but in the cold light of day pride was restored.
“On Saturday at Wembley, the New Zealand rugby league team performed a never-say-die performance when pipping England at the death. Yesterday their union counterparts repeated the dose.
“In neither case did it happen by chance.”
Ward, who was capped 19 times at fly-half which would have been far more but for the presence of another Irish fly-half great Ollie Campbell, made no bones about how good a side the All Blacks were.-Supersport.
Online Reporter