There was no camera shot of Jonathan Kaplan, the referee. It would have been interesting to see if Kaplan was looking a little the worse for wear himself, because this was yet another in the frighteningly long list of international rugby matches to be affected profoundly by a shocking refereeing decision.
Chris Jack’s blatant knock-on immediately before New Zealand’s second try caused fury in Irish ranks. It meant that for all their heroism in defence and their ingenuity, the Irish were always going to fall just short in the chase.
Before this Test series began, Ireland had become something of a champion of the oppressed nations, those seeking some chinks in the New Zealand armour. Ireland have done those ranks proud. They have not beaten the All Blacks but they have proved that they are eminently beatable. Yesterday, at least seven of the home team ranged from bad to embarrassing. Amazing what a little pressure can do.
The tour also proved that Ireland are three or four players away from being a tremendous team. Sadly, those areas are loose-head prop, tight-head prop and half-back. Ronan O’Gara is useful in certain matches but you would fear for him on fast tracks in France in next year’s World Cup. In those positions, Ireland need to unearth three new players — and soon.
John Hayes was culpable for the first New Zealand try. Station yourself in the correct position as post man on the side of a ruck by all means, but to simply stand tall when you should be almost bent double like a sprinter on the blocks was unbelievable.
Advertisement
Mostly, though, Ireland have been stirring and wonderful, the likes of Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Neil Best, Paul O’Connell, Jerry Flannery and others have been magnificent, indicating that there is an unbreakable spirit in the Irish squad.
We can ignore the petty and self-defeating victimisation of a journalist last week and applaud a team that came to contest a Test series rather than simply fulfil a fixture, a team who proved that the world of rugby is thriving outside the narrow borders of New Zealand.