In the first of a series on All Black's potenial opponents, Gregor Paul says Ireland are a preferred but useful foe.
KEY POINTS:
Ireland
It's the same every four years rugby fans everywhere scour the World Cup draw to see who their team is likely to face in the knock-out rounds.
Given the dearth of genuine challengers, it's usually a simple enough business predicting which eight teams will end
up in the quarter-finals.
But this time round, it's a bit tricky for New Zealanders to be sure who the All Blacks, assuming that is they top their own group, will face in Cardiff on October 7.
The All Blacks are scheduled to play the runner-up in Group D, which contains France, Ireland and Argentina. On current form, France are favourites to win the pool and Ireland, as second seeds, are fancied to come second.
That is by no means certain, though, as Argentina are a credible force. Most of their squad play in Europe and most of the forwards slug it out in the brutally physical French championship, while they have some trickery and pace in their backline.
In many respects Argentina are a better side than the Irish and they are a side with the ability to bother the All Blacks in a way Ireland don't. The grinding style of the Pumas forwards and the way they can close a game down is similar to the way the Boks play and it is a strategy which has yielded results against New Zealand in recent years.
Ireland, on the other hand, play a much more expansive game and look to use the twin talents of Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll in their midfield to open the game up.
It's because of the way the Irish play that the All Blacks will be hoping to see them and not Argentina in Cardiff.
Doubts will always remain about how the All Blacks will cope in a tight, forward-dominated grind. But any team that decides to take them on at their own game is ultimately doomed.
The Irish have some ability for sure. They can be fluid and dynamic and generate width that stretches defences. The problem with generating width against the All Blacks is that it opens the game up. It takes the loose forwards to the flanks and makes it an aerobic contest as much as a physical one.
It also brings the skill factor into play and there is nothing the All Black forwards like more than being licensed to run and pass in open space.
Ireland might be good enough to score two, maybe even three tries, against New Zealand. The downside of their strategy is that, in a fast and open game, the All Blacks will be good enough to score maybe five or six tries.
For the Irish to close the gap between points scored and conceded, they will need the abrasive and gifted Paul O'Connell to command the lineout.
O'Connell had a shocker of a tour when he came to New Zealand with the Lions and came nowhere near to living up to the hype which preceded his arrival.
He returned with Ireland a year later, however, and put the record straight with two outstanding performances that showed his power and aerial expertise.
When O'Connell is in form and snarling away, he brings out the best of his team-mates and helps a decent, if one-paced, backrow of Anthony Foley, David Wallace and Simon Easterby compete at the breakdown.
If they can get enough ball, then Ireland have enough know-how in their backs to convert possession into points.
Ronan O'Gara is another to have looked an ordinary player with the Lions, only to blossom on his return. He's one of the best tactical kickers in the game and in the last two years has started to pose much more of a threat as a runner.
It is the combination work of D'Arcy and O'Driscoll, arguably the best pairing in Europe, that the Irish look to work most of their set plays through.
Those two have built an innate understanding and switch between rapier and bludgeon to make the yards.
Against the All Blacks, O'Driscoll will be the key man as the world knows New Zealand have a vulnerable look at centre. The Irish will look to bombard that channel and get O'Driscoll attacking the outside shoulder as much as he can.
Whoever plays at 13 for the All Blacks will be severely tested which is ideal. The All Black coaching panel need clarity ahead of the semifinal as to who the best man is to play centre.
- HoS
