Ireland prove the All Blacks are Not Unconquerable
Jamie Heaslip takes down Jerome Kaino
©PA
When New Zealand’s All Blacks took to the field to play against Ireland on the 19th November 2016 many believed that the result of the game was a foregone conclusion.
The teams have faced each other 28 times in the past, drawing once. For all other 27 times, the Kiwis were victorious. No one expected that at the end of the match the score would be 40-29, with Ireland the winners. The Irish team not only broke the All Blacks winning streak that lasted for 18 matches, they also obtained their first victory over the Kiwi’s in 111 years.
Up until Saturday, the All Blacks seemed to have become completely undefeatable, with numerous victories including the 2015 World Cup and 2015 Championship Cup under their belts. They also defeated Australia recently, taking the title of the major Rugby Union with the most consecutive test wins.
Ireland changed the Kiwis fortunes in a match that was as exciting as it was unexpected, and the face of world Rugby was also changed for the better.
A Focus on World Rugby
The match between the All Blacks and Ireland was played in Chicago and is part of a campaign to make the sport more popular in the United States. It’s historical result certainly caught peoples attention and it’s sure to have created more ardent rugby fans.
It was also the exact tonic the world of rugby needed, as test matches with the All Blacks had become incredibly predictable and people were beginning to wonder if the Kiwi’s wins were down their invincibility, or if other teams were simply inept. In Chicago, the All Blacks were in a vulnerable position as they were missing locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, as well as Luke Romano. However, the team seemed to have an air of confident complacency and were caught off guard by the tenacious and determined Irish team.
On the 19th of November Ireland and the All Blacks will go head to head in a rematch that promises to be an adrenaline-packed game. If the action gets a little too much, consider spinning the reels of the Rugby Star Pokies game. It’s just as full of thrills as a real game is, and you might win yourself a tidy sum too!
History in the Making
Ireland’s win over the All Blacks has had a hugely positive effect on world rugby and the team have given hope to others by showing that nothing is impossible. They have proved that the All Blacks can be defeated and that if you rattle them, success could be imminent. Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has said that their historic win comes down to character and strength and could well be repeated.
The future of test rugby now looks to be a very exciting one, and Irelands win at Soldier Field could very well be the beginning of a new era.
