Ireland's historic series victory over the All Blacks has spurred on a notion conceived in the northern hemisphere last November. It was one which suggested this New Zealand team and coaching ticket did not match those of the past.
Saturday's 32-22 third test victory for Ireland in Wellington has turned that sapling into a fully grown oak.
In the New Zealand Herald, Gregor Paul writes that to "not first acknowledge the brilliance of Ireland would be churlish and ungracious" but also says that this is "not a great or even a particularly good All Blacks side".
"One 20-minute patch at Eden Park aside where they spoonfed the All Blacks a steady diet of turnover opportunities, they have been the [smarter] and the slicker," he says of Ireland.
"They have had all the good ideas, the tidier execution and the steadiness of nerve to believe in all that they do and for New Zealanders, this tour has at least given an opportunity to enjoy a high-quality rugby fix vicariously," he says.
"Ireland have played with the speed, vision and daring that the All Blacks used to, and currently want to, but simply don't have all the nuts and pieces to get it right.
"They go home deserved winners – the dominant partners now in the relationship and hopefully some of what they brought will rub off on the All Blacks."
16 July 2022; Ireland players celebrate their side's first try scored by Josh van der Flier of Ireland during the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Paul also says that the moment Ian Foster replaced All Blacks captain Sam Cane with 15 minutes to play on Saturday was a signal that "an empire is crumbling" and one in which Ireland "knew they had not only won the test and the series, but also officially transcended into the dominant partner in the rivalry with New Zealand".
"The All Blacks captain is a sacrosanct position in the world game: a role that carries a weight of respect beyond these shores," he writes.
"It's a figurehead role as much as anything else – a position that defines the All Blacks' global standing and to see such a vital chess piece removed from the board at such a critical juncture was a decision that was impossibly difficult to understand."
Calls for Ian Foster to be removed as All Blacks head coach just 14 months out from the World Cup are ubiquitous.
"The All Blacks are playing way below the standards expected of them," Chris Rattue writes for the New Zealand Herald.
"The results under Foster are awful. Foster has no record of success as a head coach.
"And in Scott Robertson and Joe Schmidt, there are two great coaches available to take over, perhaps in tandem somehow.
"Having Schmidt as a selector, assisting Foster, is like getting Eric Clapton to play the castanets for Ed Sheeran. What a waste."
Marc Hinton of Stuff.co.nz says that "This is probably Ireland’s finest side in their history, and this 2-1 series victory, from one down, arguably their greatest achievement."
However, he adds, "there has to be recognition that something is drastically wrong in these All Blacks who have now, with Saturday’s 32-22 defeat, lost four of their last five test matches. It’s not just that the fear factor, or whatever it was they once held over their opponents, has gone. Truth be told it probably disappeared last November in the north.
"But so poor is this side performing, so lacking in answers are they when put under anything resembling pressure, something has to be done."
16 July 2022; New Zealand head coach Ian Foster before the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Richard Knowler writes for Stuff.co.nz that Peter O'Mahony was the 'MVP' of Saturday's game.
"Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony was inspirational for the tourists," he says.
"As he has been throughout the series. No wonder he was crying like a child after the game. It meant that much."
For 1News.co.nz, Patrick McKendry says that the ability of Ireland's coaching team to correct what went wrong in the first test, "made the All Blacks and Foster and his assistants look bewildered by comparison".
He adds: "Foster said afterwards that he wanted to analyse the Test and overall series to find solutions, but some things are clearly evident: Ireland, who before this tour had never won a Test in New Zealand, had a better attack than the All Blacks.
"They also appeared more highly motivated over the three Tests, despite the All Blacks’ home advantage. And some of their men hadn’t played for eight weeks.
"They played with a greater understanding of who they are as a team and what they wanted to achieve. And that’s the bottom line, because that comes from preparation – in other words, coaching."
See Also: Ireland Player Ratings As All Blacks Vanquished And History Made
