Editorial: Time Irish enjoyed rub of the green

The Bay's Irish community was upset when Ronan Keating and Sharon Corr were called "Brits". Photo/Natalie Slade.

Last week the Bay's Irish community lost its rag when Mission acts Ronan Keating and Sharon Corr were included as "Brits".

Nothing quite like a little sectarian brinkmanship before the concert.

With a decent volume of Irish blood in my veins I was buoyed by the show of nationalism.

At least, sort of.

Sort of because my homeland (Kiwi) loyalty vanishes when the men in black square off against the Emerald Greens.

The Irish team has a habit of eliciting my treacherous side - they're the only team I back to usurp the might of the All Blacks.

This Monday's test carries extra poignancy as it's Brian O'Driscoll's last tilt at the World Cup champions.

Dubbed sometimes by his initials, "BOD", sometimes as "sport's whitest man", and by me as the best centre in modern footy, the midfielder is admittedly a tad past his prime. And to boot, he's carrying a calf injury.

Yet he remains positive and described himself last week as "an eternal optimist". "No one will give us a chance, but that's OK with us."

The celebrated No13 has faced the All Blacks' haka 13 times. Needless to say, he's lost 13 times. It's an easy stat to work out, given the Irish have not once beaten the men in black.

Herein lies the reason I never miss this fixture.

Imagine missing that one game when the luck of the Irish actually materialises on the paddock.

Ireland, please win. Please win so I can rid myself of displaced loyalty and the deep sense of shame each time you two square off. Then I can go back to supporting the chaps with the silver fern on their chests.