The mind games started long ago ahead of Ireland v New Zealand, in a hugely anticipated World Cup quarter-final that has now been confirmed for Saturday evening at the Stade de France.
These two sides met at the same stage in 2019, but one would hazard a guess we will see a far closer game than the All Blacks' 46-14 demolition of Joe Schmidt's Ireland in Tokyo.
Ireland come into the game with four wins from four thus far in the Rugby World Cup, and as the world's #1 side, while New Zealand have silenced a few of their critics with a routine march to the quarters after an opening game defeat to France.
The rivalry between these two sides in recent years has escalated, ever since Ireland's first victory over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016.
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16 July 2022; Ireland players, from left, Joey Carbery, Peter O'Mahony, James Lowe, Rob Herring, Ryan Baird, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy and Robbie Henshaw celebrate with the cup after the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Since it became somewhat clear that the two teams would meet in the last eight this time around, the mind games have ramped up, with comments from New Zealand's head coach Ian Foster and lock Brodie Retallick raising eyebrows in recent weeks.
The most provocative, however, have now come from NZ Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul, who has branded Ireland as the most unlikeable team in world rugby, and compared them to the "arrogant" England team of the 1990s.
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Writing in his column for the NZ Herald, Gregor Paul's comments are sure to ruffle the feathers of a few Irish rugby fans, as he said he saw the Irish team as "universally unpopular."
One of New Zealand's best-known rugby journalists, Paul compared Ireland to Will Carling's England side of the 1990s, saying that Andy Farrell's side might be feeling "entitled" after their lengthy spell at number one in the world rankings:
There have only been a few teams who have made themselves universally unpopular in the way they have behaved, or carried themselves on the field or after games. The most notorious was Will Carling’s England team of the late 1980s and early 1990s, who were never much liked by anyone other than their own fans. They were perceived as arrogant, often condescending to opponents, and a touch too fond of celebrating their own success.
This Ireland team have perhaps become the new England, as their prolonged stretch as No 1 in the world rankings may be fostering a culture of entitlement.
Paul goes on to remark on Johnny Sexton's suspension for going at Jaco Peyper in the aftermath of May's Champions Cup final as an example of what he perceives as this Ireland team's unlikeability, and says that the All Blacks team will be driven on by "mutual dislike as much as mutual respect."
There is certainly a venom in this rivalry that was not quite there five years ago, in the aftermath of Ireland becoming the first northern hemisphere team to win a three-match test series on New Zealand soil last summer.
It's set to be a mega, fiery clash in Paris on Saturday night, and the fire in the All Blacks' belly is undoubtedly lit ahead of one of the most anticipated World Cup games in recent memory.
Featured image: Sportsfile
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