All Blacks v Ireland part III - July 16 8.05am Ireland time

That 8 point swing when Sexton hit the bar and Jordan went super saiyan had me in the depths of "here we go again".

Thank Beirne for Tadhg God.

Absolutely. The issue has not been losing, but in particular, the nature of the losses, I think. If we put our best foot forward and are properly prepared, and then play to our best levels people will accept the outcome IMO.

I was convinced we would lose too after that 8-point swing. It's probably fair to say every previous Irish team would have lost in that spot? I imagine New Zealand was favoured by in-play betting markets at that moment. That's the bit that is so incredible. Before the tour, we would have assumed that the last 20 minutes of the 3rd test would have been a tough period for us, given our depth and availability issues in a couple of crucial positions. Instead, the lads finished the stronger. I'm still wrapping my head around it tbh. :)

You're forgetting the game in Chicago.

Very similar to Saturday's game. I can distinctly remember that stomach churning feeling when they came back at us. Then Henshaw went over.

The belief and confidence required for big games has been in this team for a long time now.

Obviously we haven't see it in every single match since Chicago, but it's roots go back that far imo.

Worryingly, there is a very direct correlation between days we've had that belief and Sexton being on the pitch, versus days we've capitulated and him not being on the pitch.

(Japan game in 2019, 1st test in NZ after he went off etc.)

Watched the game again last night from the NZ Sky Sports. They were surprisingly unbiased(relatively speaking) and really rated some of the Irish performances during the game. No real gripes on the yellow for Porter compared to last week's red. Or about Aki's cleanout under the posts that could have been looked at a bit more.

They really went on about Irelands physically, which was the only worry, as we tend to lose that advantage when facing France or SA.

An amazing game and series to watch and enjoy.

The only downside is that the Kiwis have just over a year to fix things for the world cup.

But for now, I'm happy to enjoy it. My Dad is finally getting over the 10-10 in Lansdowne back in '73.

Reading this from Farrell in the IT says it all for me:

"“Are we anywhere near where we want to be? We’re not. We’re definitely not. You might think that’s me just throwing that out there but it’s the truth. You’ve got this fellow (Sexton). We’ve got people telling us to keep him at home (before we go) so we can build something. But what an opportunity it would have been to see how it’s properly done, to prepare a team, to be a world class player and to believe so much that little old Ireland can beat New Zealand in New Zealand. That’s why you bring your best players, so they can grow the group.

As to the notion of Ireland peaking too soon before a World Cup again, Farrell countered: “It’s about growth and learning the lessons from the tour so it’s up to us to make sure that we keep on going. But let’s not be scared by a little bit of success, y’know. Hitting the straps too early again? Couldn’t be any further from our minds. The only focus for us is: Keep pushing forward.”

I think we can leave it there as regards the approach that we will take over the next 15 months or so.

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Reading that got me giddy so I'm watching the game again on that NZ Rugby Vidz Sky Sport link.

The magnamity and balance from the Kiwi commentary and pundits...

Moved

Well the WC is THE tournament. We can agree to disagree on how our performances there define a team, but for me it should be the ultimate expression of our World Cup cycle. Anything great that comes before (like this test series) should set us up to be the best version of ourselves in the big show.

I think this debate offers extremes on both sides. I’m guilty of it - of course Joel Schmidt and Declan Kidney et al wanted to win a World Cup. However, there have been obvious spots in world cups where we have needed to give a guy minutes they have not been ready for. You can say you already “knew” Sexton could hold up but he didn’t hold up the last World Cup. And he will be 38 for the next one.

But it’s not just about Sexton and 10. We may need a prop to come in who hasn’t started a big game as part of our best pack. Ideally these lads would have taken the pain of it before.

That’s the issue here I think around your argument. Yes, England in 2003 went around beating everyone the 18 months before the World Cup. But New Zealand in 2011 had to play a lad who was in and out of the team at Bath to win. Our issue is that our depth becoming an issue scenarios are likely and predictable. It therefore follows that failing to give lads big starts who you are probably going to have to call on in the tournament is negligent. You can say you’re still trying to win in those scenarios, but it rings hollow.

I think it is fair to say that we prioritised this test series and it was a great achievement to win it. It was however 3 more big games where we didn’t start depth options at key positions. We can decide now in Autumn that we want to do the Southern trifecta in a calendar year. And those games will be gone. Then Wales away and England and France at home and then we’re out of road. And if that thing that is likely going to happen happens and we have our pants down for a World Cup quarter final…

Getting the balance right is so difficult. Farrell has a massive job and he’s done incredibly well so far. But we’re asking a huge amount of him and the squad if they can never approach a big game less than 100% full on. That’s all I’m really saying.

I keep seeing this and it's nonsense. Us getting our pants pulled down in 2019, had nothing to with us not giving fringe players enough game time.