All Blacks vs Ireland: Good thing there’s a roof

Analysis – Two decades since the All Blacks last faced off in a bone-chilling test against Ireland in Dunedin, this weekend both sides will welcome the chance to play under a roof this weekend, writes Jamie Wall.

Ireland’s Keith Earls scores a try in the first test against the All Blacks on 2 July 2022.
Photo: PhotSport / INPHO/Billy Stickland

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At least, only fix the bits that need fixing is what Ian Foster has gone with this week as his All Black side looks to wrap up the series with Ireland. The second test will be the first time the two sides have played at Forsyth Barr Stadium, where the roof will be a very welcome addition to proceedings given how the last test the two sides played in Dunedin went.

Almost exactly 20 years ago, the All Blacks beat Ireland 15-6 on a freezing night at Carisbrook. If you don’t remember it, don’t worry. It was a truly awful test match, with coach John Mitchell selecting a record 13 Crusaders in his starting team. Among them were current Super Rugby coaches Scott Robertson, Leon MacDonald and Aaron Mauger. That’s about the only interesting fact in the two tries to nil victory, other than legendary Irish hooker Keith Wood nailing a 50/22 two decades before they were a thing:

After the surprise selection of Scott Barrett at blindside last weekend, Foster has been forced to move him into the second row after Samuel Whitelock’s concussion problems have seen him be ruled out. That means the loose forward trio that most expected – Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Dalton Papalii – will run out a week later than first thought, with chatter still around whether the All Black captain even deserves his spot in the starting side.

People shouldn’t waste their breath. For all of Foster’s tinkering with the team, one thing has been completely consistent: which is that as long as Cane is fit, he is the leader. This will be the first time he and Papalii will combine in a starting team, with it also being Papalii’s first start at blindside.

It marks a bit of a departure from the theory that saw Barrett fill the 6 jersey last weekend, but the blue collar work ethic of Papalii and Cane leaves Savea to once again rack up the crowd-pleasing carries and tries. There is every indication that if this works well, this may well be the way the All Black loose forward trio will look heading into next year’s World Cup.

There have been some gripes about the fast-tracking of Patrick Tuipulotu back into the test side, something that was signalled to eagle-eyed Auckland club rugby followers last weekend when the lock turned out for his Ponsonby side. Like Braydon Ennor last weekend, this does seem a little knee-jerk given that he required an exemption (funny how NZ Rugby’s eligibility rules can be bent any time it suits), but Foster clearly wants Tuipulotu’s experience.

Other than that, there’s a potential debut for Folau Fakatava off the bench, which will be fitting in front of the Dunedin crowd. Like the loose forwards, it’s highly likely that if this pairing with Aaron Smith goes according to plan, we will see these two split duties in France next year.

However, given the nature of last weekend’s win and probably repeat, astute observers would do well to watch the other test matches happening this weekend, specifically in Brisbane and Bloemfontein.

The Wallabies’ high drama win over England was another positive step in the right direction for Dave Rennie’s side, while Eddie Jones can feel the knives in his back yet again despite being on the other side of the world. Meanwhile, the Springboks were favoured to handily beat Wales in their first test but only just scraped home thanks to a late penalty goal.

The All Blacks will play all of these sides before the year is out. If test rugby continues the way it started last weekend, it’s going to be a very intriguing season.