No room for Chicago sentiment

SOLDIER Field is on the southside of Chicago, it’s the baddest part of town.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

The bad-assed part of town too, as Ireland finally broke their 100 year results hex against the All Blacks, spanning a bridge stretching from 0-15 in 1905 to a 40-29 win in 2016.

And therein endeth the lesson which is sentimental schmaltz as far as this Saturday’s meeting is concerned.

The results/figures that matter bare that New Zealand are 5-4 ahead on the nine meetings since.

Chicago 2016? What Andy Farrell needs to be cognisant of this weekend is the significant consequence of the 2016 game is that the All Blacks HATE us.

The venom with which they attacked Ireland in the post-Chicago game two weeks later in Dublin caused World Rugby to change its rules on violent play; they were there for the kill at RWC 2019 and thrashed Ireland in the quarterfinal; they defended like dogs at the close of the 2023 RWC quarterfinal.

And weren't above telling Johnny Sexton what they thought of Ireland, to such an extent the Ireland captain broached the idea the All Blacks had no ‘class.

Well duh! Dateline June 4, 1995, Rugby World Cup: New Zealand 145 Japan 17, a ritual humiliation of their opponents that showed no mercy, no cop on, no humility, no class.

The ‘unofficial’ excuse for their 2016 defeat was, by the way, that they had been given too much time off during the week, the whole trip had been pitched a sponsor's jaunt rather than a nailed down NZU trip...the lads were ‘tired and emotional’ by the time they got to the field.