THE monkey is finally off the back and after their historic win against the All Blacks in 111 years and in their 29th attempt, Ireland must now believe that it has the momentum for a repeat when the teams meet again in Dublin on November 19.
There were accolades everywhere for the Irish in the world’s rugby press, including in New Zealand, not simply because they had finally done it but more for the way they played.
The All Blacks were a week into enjoying their world record-setting consecutive wins for tier one nations and had injury concerns but while the team doesn’t want to use this as a reason for the shattering defeat, coach Steve Hansen and his assistants have to take a hard look at how their selection decisions could have had an influence on the result.
While no one can argue about playing backrower Jerome Kaino as lock due to the non-availability of first-choices Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, the decision to start Aaron Smith at scrumhalf after the player had not played in the three Tests prior to Chicago was the subject of much scrutiny.
This was especially significant given that TJ Perenara had played very well in the absence of Smith.
Perenara also has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and so far this year has scored five tries for the All Blacks.
One would also question why prop Wyatt Crockett, a player who had done well usually off the bench, was out of the matchday-23, his place given to Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who had only three caps going into the Irish game.
In the midfield Hansen started with George Moala (four caps) at outside centre, a position filled by Anton Lienert-Brown in the three Tests prior to Chicago after the 21-year-old had played three Tests off the bench before that.
It looked like Hansen wanted to give some a break while bringing back others, notably Smith, into the fold but one would have thought he would have kept the tinkering for this weekend’s game against Italy in Rome.
Sports people are often reminded that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but the problem with winning and winning is that you can lose your focus and sense of judgment.
The All Blacks tinkered with their line-up in the 2003 World Cup semi-final against Australia and again in the 2007 tournament’s quarter-final against France and both ended in disasters.
In their previous 10 Tests this year, the All Blacks were hardly tested but the danger signs were there in the Auckland game against the Wallabies on October 22, their last before leaving for the Autumn internationals.
That game showed that no matter how good you are, your game is bound to be affected if your opponents deny you possession and apply constant pressure. That’s what Ireland did in Chicago, especially in terms of possession.
Another point to note was prop Joe Moody’s sinbinning for a tip tackle, during which time Ireland scored 14 points. This was Moody’s second yellow card in four consecutive matches, after the one given him for a swinging arm off the ball against the Pumas in early October.
It could have been worse for Moody and the All Blacks in the second-half against Ireland when the television match official was asked to take a look at a high tackle but only a penalty was awarded.
What Ireland’s victory has done is to give hope to others that the All Blacks can be beaten after all and because the teams they play on this tour will no doubt be inspired by Ireland’s success, Hansen may have to rethink hard about his team selection even against a much lower ranked side like Italy.
Already the French, who they meet in Paris on November 26, are feeling upbeat about the game and fancy their chances of an upset.
But for Ireland, if their rugby is going to go much further afield, it surely cannot be just about beating the All Blacks.
First there is the 6 Nations, which it won in 2014 and again in 2015 after coming very close to upsetting the All Blacks in Dublin a few months earlier.
At the highest level is of course the World Cup, for which Ireland has never failed to qualify since the first tournament in 1987 but has been in the quarter-finals only twice.
At the last tournament in England last year, Ireland was soundly beaten 43-20 by Argentina, again in the quarter-finals.
But who knows, the win in Chicago may inspire someone to come up with a movie, in a similar way Irish club Munster’s 12-0 win over the touring All Blacks in 1978 became Munster mythology and led to a play and a book.