Bar the absence of their first choice second rows, the All Blacks had few excuses to offer after their first ever loss to Ireland on Saturday evening at Soldier Field.
Following their destructive Rugby Championship campaign and despite being with Sam Whiteland, Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano, the All Blacks were still expected to deal easily with Ireland.
The performance offered by Joe Schmidt's side was immense. They resisted the irresistible force. Schmidt's preparation of the team was obviously a key part of the victory.
Speaking on Sunday, All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen recognised the abilities of his fellow New Zealander. A sign of the respect for Schmidt in his native country is they wanted to bring him back home before he inked his new deal with the IRFU. A possible position with a New Zealand Super Rugby side had been rumoured.
He's probably one of the best coaches around.
He's meticulous in his work ethic, a good analyst of the game and that's why Ireland want to keep him and why New Zealand wanted to bring him home.
Hansen added that Schmidt should be proud of what Ireland have accomplished so far this year regarding southern hemisphere opposition.
It's good for Joe, and Joe's a really good man, I've got a lot of time for him as all our coaching staff has; he's a top bloke.
He's working hard and trying to do something with Ireland and he's having some success.
They're having a great year, they've knocked over South Africa and they've knocked us over. So he'll be feeling pretty pleased with himself and so he should.
Ireland take on New Zealand again in two weeks and then Australia in the final game of the November internationals - he's not done with the southern hemisphere teams just yet.
Steve Hansen on Joe Schmidt
Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
