Dylan Cleaver: Gallant losers the Irish, as always

Somehow you just knew it was going to happen.

You couldn't say it was written in the stars as there were none in sight on this filthy evening where the weather was as much Armagh as it was Auckland.

No, you just knew that no matter how badly the All Black machine spluttered or how loudly the Irish howled at the moon, there was only going to be one outcome.

Ireland play the All Blacks as if defeat is their destiny.

Like Robert Falcon Scott they are the gallant loser, winning admirers but forever second (the All Blacks are more of the Roald Amundsen school - they'd eat their dogs if it meant winning).

Ireland have had their chances. Like 2001 at Lansdowne Road where they carved the All Blacks up in the first half then remembered their station and surrendered meekly in the second. Like Carisbrook in 1992 and 2002.

Like Dublin 1963, and '73 where the All Blacks scraped a draw. Like last night.

Ireland wear the cloak of valiant loser so well it could have been made for them alone. On this night Ireland looked lost early but kept plugging away, giving themselves ray upon ray of false hope.

Never was this hope as bright as when they scored two cream-puff soft tries as the All Blacks defensive system blew a fuse. Or early in the second half when - with just three points in it - the All Blacks employed a tactical kicking game minus the tactical bit.

Well, that's the way it looked to the untrained eye. But let's tread very carefully here. It could easily have been part of the cunning plan.

Twelve months ago New Zealand rugby media were up in arms as the Alastair Campbell-inspired Lions tried to spin their way around NZ.

Large tracts of native forests were cleared to provide the pages for the righteous indignation heaped upon Messrs Woodward and Campbell.

Nobody has been as quick to condemn the All Blacks Ministry of Information.

Despite incriminating evidence to the contrary we are being told to believe that Ma'a Nonu was excellent at centre last week. They didn't go to the extraordinary lengths of a Campbell session. There were no bodgied up video clips taken from five different angles to demonstrate that Nonu was, in fact, the best player in the world but there was menace in the message.

I don't see it the same way you people do, Wayne Smith said, surveying the media with a certain disdain. Subtext: You know nothing.

Then, in case we mixed the message, Nonu got to wear the prized yellow bib at training, given out to the four best performing All Blacks. Subtext: Don't think for yourself, just faithfully record our thoughts.

Was the criticism of Nonu unfair? Probably. Was the All Black management's defence of one of their young charges understandable? Absolutely.

But take it for what it was - pure spin. Mr Campbell would have been impressed.