Now that our Second Meeting with New Zealand has troubled our sight, Irish rugby's innocence towards cynicism in rugby has been drowned.
And somehow, somehow the fall-out continues.
We've had the prickly post-match interview by the New Zealand manager.
We've had the discussion of the weak referee.
We've had the reaction against the reaction against the referee.
We've had the yeah-the-ref-was-crap-but-we-had-ourselves-to-blame analysis.
We've had the ah-yeah-we-probably-were-but-didn't-the-shite-ref-let-them-away-with-a-lot reaction against the reaction against the shite ref reaction.
We've had the citings confirming our earlier belief.
We've even had a profile of Clare McNamara in New Zealand.
But the battle for the moral high ground is not yet over, and we here at Balls HQ believe that we have a duty to fight for it.
We point you in the direction of the opinion section of stuff.co.nz which has decided the time is right to draw a line beneath Ireland/New Zealand by labelling Ireland the "biggest whingers in World Rugby", replacing England.
Now, we could of course complain about this, but that might be construed as whinging.
Instead, let's take a couple of excerpts, and offer a counter-point. This is not whinging - this is reasoned debate, the cornerstone of democracy (for however much longer that lasts).
1) The reaction of the Irish media
They [Ireland] have continually played an adventurous game compared to most of their northern counterparts and generally approached things with an easy-going attitude that befits the country's friendly reputation.
But that seems to have changed since they beat the All Blacks in Chicago, ending 111 years of misery against New Zealand.
Suddenly they are "mightier than thou". But if you've beaten the best and want to be the best, then start acting like the best.
Did they not realise they stirred the beast with their historic victory, that the All Blacks would come at them with increased tempo and physicality in Dublin?
We did indeed realise this. Here is Gerry Thornley writing in the Irish Times under the sub-heading "Schmidt's men unlikely to ever face tougher test than a New Zealand dead set on revenge'. It opens with the line "It doesn’t get any easier, does it?".
And we're not exactly sure how New Zealand being "the world's best team" or the beast being stirred means they are somehow above criticism for playing outside the law.
2) The idea that All Blacks are dirty is the only inference one can take from the game
To suggest the All Blacks are dirty – and that's the only inference one can take from the vitriol that has emerged over the last few days – is an insult to the world's best team.
Even world rugby's judiciary seemed to agree. Yes they nailed a reckless Malakai Fekitoa but their dismissal of Sam Cane's alleged dangerous tackle was a victory for common sense.
The idea that the All Blacks are dirty is the only inference from the game is nonsense. Were that to be the only inference, it would be all Rory Best and Joe Schmidt would have talked about post-game. They refused to be drawn on it.
3) The idea that we are liked by New Zealand for liking New Zealand
I've long admired the Irish attitude – Brian O'Driscoll aside at times, of course – and their open admiration for the All Blacks.
We would respectfully disagree with this, and say that line is emblematic of the "mightier than thou" attitude the article admonishes Ireland for. Also, needless O'Driscoll dig there.
Anyway, we want that moral high ground! Although we welcome a response.
Also, if New Zealand wanted to vote for us to host the 2023 World Cup anyway, that would be sound thing to do.
[Stuff.co.nz]
See Also: The Bombshell, The Strike And The Outrageous Cockiness: Most Memorable Moments From Ireland v Australia
