The Kiwi journalists were at it again.
Every time Ireland come up against the All Blacks, they are forced to endure a unique form of ignorance.
The All Blacks are the greatest so why worry about everyone else? That is the logic.
In 2012, Ma’a Nonu spoke about how Paul O’Connell was the biggest threat to New Zealand only to learn the Munster lock was injured and had not made the touring party.
“Aw… yeah. The other guy knows his stuff too. He’s tough,” Nonu scrambled.
New Zealand flaked Ireland 3-0 in a resounding, sobering series.
Today at Trump Towers, Jack McGrath, who will probably start at loosehead on next summer’s Lions tour to New Zealand, sat at the top table in Chicago today, the second question he faced was all about Rory Best.
In fairness, the Leinster prop handled it well.
Kiwi reporter: “Rory, your opposite Dane Coles spoke earlier in the week and was very complimentary of how you play. He said you had an outrageous work-rate and were one of the best hookers in the world. How do you see him?”
McGrath: “Emm, I’ll tell Rory that when I see him. I’m Jack McGrath, by the way. I’ll be going against Owen Franks at the weekend. He is a massively experienced operator, as are all the front row. It is going to be a hugely physical battle and it will be won and lost at scrum-time.
“Again, we’ve worked really hard on video to see where their strengths are and where to counter-act that. We’re a strong scrum so we’re going to have to maybe have a go at it.”
Other Kiwi reporter: “Jack, on a scale of 1 to 10, how offensive is it being confused with Rory Best?”
McGrath: “Well he wears a scrum-cap so sometimes… I’ve been called worse, let’s just say that. It’s not too bad; I don’t mind that. The calibre of the man, it’s not too bad to be compared to him.”
There then followed a question about McGrath sporting a moustache to tell him apart from Best.
He swatted that away and sought to move on. Joe Schmidt wouldn’t let him forget it as the press briefing wound up.
“Off you go now Rory,” he laughed.
The only way to answer these Kiwi’s is to beat them on the rugby pitch. If we don’t, we can’t really complain.
Colm O’Rourke and Pauric Mahony join Colm Parkinson on a packed GAA Hour that includes Dick Clerkin appreciation and Sean Cavanagh envy. Subscribe here on iTunes.
