Sean Farrell reports from Soldier Field, Chicago
ALL BLACK COACH Steve Hansen left no room for excuses following the historical first ever loss to Ireland.
Far from being in prickly mood after seeing his side shunted off an 18-game winning streak, the all-conquering World Cup-winner praised the manner of Ireland’s 40 – 29 victory.
“Firstly I want to offer a big congratulations to Ireland,” Hansen said before a question was even asked in his post-match press conference at the home of the Chicago Bears.
“I thought they played outstanding today and thoroughly deserved the win and it makes up for the last time when they probably should have won too.”
The only aspects of the game Hansen did feel the need to bemoan were his own side’s failings. The All Black camp spent a week saying they were braced for an intensely physical clash with Ireland. Yet aside from the line-break and lucky bounce that gave George Moala an early try, they had very few answers for Ireland’s masterful well-rounded gameplan.
“From our side, I’m really proud of them. We allowed ourselves be dominated in the first half and didn’t control possession.
“A lot of that was to Ireland’s credit but also down to ourselves. We’ve got a wee bit of work to do.
“But to come back and get to 29 – 33, under the circumstances was a pretty brave effort. In the end it was one step too far to go. As I say, great credit to Ireland and I hope they thoroughly enjoy their victory. It’s great we’re in a city like Chicago and great there’s so many fans here to enjoy it with them.”
It’s easy when you win, you give yourself a little pat on the back. When you lose you give yourself a wee upper cut. There’s things you have to get better at.”
After a nine-try, 69-point, see-sawing, back-and-forth thriller, the good news for rugby fans everywhere is that these two teams will go head to head again in just under two weeks’ time in Dublin.
“On the afternoon we got beaten by a side that was better than us and we have to accept that, go away and have a look at where they beat us, how they beat us and how we’re going to get better so that in a fortnight’s time we can contest the game.”
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