We've great individuals, they have a great team

RUGBY ANALYST:I'VE HEARD Ireland's Call in many wonderful places but the rendition from the Habitat for Humanity volunteers in Kaps Villa in the heart of Ndola in Zambia has to be experienced.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the All Black starting team on screen and, in particular, Sonny Bill Williams at 12 and Israel Dagg at fullback. Then up popped the Irish starting side and as my eyes scanned the list my mind drifted back to Carisbrook 20 years ago and the three-point loss with Paddy Johns in the secondrow and I wondered how Dan Tuohy would perform.

Brian O’Driscoll led out his team, with Jonny Sexton immediately behind him, followed by Simon Zebo the trinity representing Ireland’s past, present and future. All three were to have big parts, which brings me to the starting side and the bench.

Declan Fitzpatrick’s first test came with the All Blacks’ Haka, where his heart must have been racing. but on two minutes and 51 seconds the real test arrived with referee Nigel Owens’ fourth word, ‘engage’.

And engage with Tony Woodcock he did but Owens stole the chance to observe by giving the Kiwis a free kick so we had to wait until eight minutes and 36 seconds for the next scrum. This left-hand field scrum was solid and afforded Ireland a shot at the open field, which they took with deep running, fixing All Blacks, with Sonny Bill shrugged off by Rob Kearney; beautiful and well done to Fitzpatrick at the scrum and moments later to pick the ball off the deck to continue the move.

Although it was later confirmed he had been injured, Fitzpatrick looked like he could at least have continued scrummaging. Or did Kidney have a plan to get game time into the squad in preparation for next week? That substitution changed the scrum, which didn’t require it for this game. Fellow Habitat volunteer Cathy Evans sitting beside me was quick to spot the uncontested scrums.

The secondrows were always an interesting debate, where Donnacha Ryan’s engine couldn’t be extinguished. His tackling was at times ferocious and always relentless. Tuohy started well and provided a target for Rory Best throughout, but the engine room clearly needed more energy and oomph to impact on Tuohy’s departure. Mike McCarthy represents the best option but wasn’t on the bench.

Ronan O’Gara’s arrival confused me. What was the purpose of his arrival and did Sexton need to come off? Inside ten, Conor Murray started once again and there was huge merit in starting him, but also for starting Eoin Reddan, who is most comfortable in keeping his options varied and getting the most from Sexton.

Ireland did bring a very distinct game plan to the table, where from the off they were happy to attack from deep. Ireland employed Keith Earls and O’Driscoll beautifully, swapping them in defence at times but also affording an extra threat from Earls, where he was very comfortable switching with Sexton inside to become the first receiver; all designed to confuse the All Blacks.

And this worked from the off, with Tuohy taking a ball very wide, placing it superbly (Ulster’s Brian McLaughlin’s influence?) for Earls to keep it going from scrumhalf (another development). The team looked primed and ready to attack the Kiwis close and wide. Zebo was tested in the air, on the ground and in defence and looked very comfortable, especially running off O’Driscoll’s shoulder. When Sexton executed his famous Leinster loop around not one All Black was sucked in.

The trouble for Ireland was New Zealand were equally happy to attack from deep and the jet propulsion rockets that exploded on the culmination of their Haka was very evident in all 633 metres gained by every player in black (Ireland gained 179 metres).

How does Declan Kidney negate the All Black backs? The long, uncontested kicks deep into their hands that occurred too often last Saturday must be avoided at all costs, especially after a period of All Black pressure, as happened from the brilliant 24th minute turnover penalty Ireland secured on their own line which lifted the pressure to an Irish lineout but the box kick was cruelly exposed.

Fullback Dagg was clearly a structured exit gate out of their 22. Time and again off ruck ball the Kiwis went to him on the blind side, where he powered into triple defence, getting his hands free for Sonny Bill. Was there a finer sight than his two hand carry for Julian Savea’s second try, completely confusing the Irish defence, or Conrad Smith’s dummy kick and carry in his right hand as he escaped from his 22.

Field position is one thing as is possession, but for Ireland to compete next week denying the All Blacks possession is crucial. Very seldom Ireland challenged in the air at lineouts, especially as Sonny Bill launched into midfield from off the top ball; what brilliant defence by Sexton and O’Driscoll. Considering the pace of the All Black possession, Ireland’s defence throughout was excellent but I loved Best’s hit on Savea way out on the touchline, especially for reading the switch.

With five tries to one the lazy conclusion is a humbling of Ireland and in part that is true. That the All Blacks were able to maintain vast amounts of possession and field position had three main threats for Ireland. Firstly this massive defensive effort fatigued the Irish immensely; secondly, this fatigue and power play forced scores and finally it prevented Ireland from their own opportunity to display their array of skills and thereby fatigue the All Blacks themselves.

As the game ticked along those opportunities began to diminish but when they did appear late on the spark and ingenuity had flagged away and Ireland simply couldn’t threaten a supremely organised All Black defence. Earlier on, after the 32nd-minute attacking lineout maul, Ireland were already flagging when the ball spilled between O’Driscoll and Sexton. Minutes later Savea scored his second from a short lineout miles out: 23-3.

Ireland, through O’Driscoll and Seán O’Brien, were immense at the breakdown but all of team New Zealand were too. In summary, Ireland, without three injured Lions, have the European player of the year in Rob Kearney, who again was superb on Saturday. Opposite him, New Zealand have the stunning Dagg but his team allow him to be that, stunning; the difference is in the team?

As for me, it’s back to building in Chipulusa Province in the township of Ndola.