Saturday 11th June 2016 will go down as a historic day in rugby. Not just because Ireland won a test in South Africa against the Boks for the first time. Not just because the U20s became the first Irish male team to beat New Zealand in history.
But because New Zealand finally acknowledged the northern hemisphere as a rugby entity.
The defeat of the Baby Blacks made some ripples in New Zealand media - with both the New Zealand Herald and Stuff lamenting how the team face a do or die battle against Wales to have a chance of the semi-finals.
New Zealand Herald in particular were complimentary to Nigel Carolan's men:
In truth New Zealand were second best for much of the clash against a fired-up and accurate Ireland outfit.
James Ryan particularly impressed the New Zealand media, with Campbell Burnes astounded at Ireland's forward dominance.
Ireland's line speed on defence troubled New Zealand all game as light rain fell, while their set-piece was dominant. Their captain and man of the match, lock James Ryan, led by example, they tackled like demons and played to their strengths in a tactically astute and gritty display.
It was acknowledged that the nine point deficit flattered New Zealand, having to rely on try saving tackles to keep it respectable.
In reality though, the U20s reports are a percursor to one of the most overreaction articles from anyone. In so much as the Southern hemisphere dominance was overhyped following the World Cup, now the Super Rugby competition is apparently in ruin.
Gregor Paul, think George Hook with a Scottish accent living in New Zealand, thinks that Super Rugby is damaging the game, and that it's allowed the Northern Hemisphere to catch up:
Given where England, Ireland and Wales were in performance-terms at the World Cup, they have to be recognised for putting their respective houses in better order.
All three have improved. They were more alert to opportunity, clinical when they had to be and rock solid at set-piece and collision.
Can anyone else remember the last couple of months? The countless arguments of how turgid the rugby up here, and how no one has learned anything from the World Cup. Was that a dream? Can that be discounted after just one Saturday?
Paul is typically harsh on Australia on South Africa for their defeats to England and Ireland respectively. He blames the expansion of Super Rugby - and the associated dip in standards for the Australian and South African franchises as the architects for their national teams failures:
The situation in South Africa is much the same - exacerbated by the desire to implement transition policies. It is surely not coincidental in the year Super Rugby expands and the quality of Super Rugby out of South Africa and Australia has been questionable, both the Springboks and Wallabies lose their opening tests?
I've heard this type of kneejerk scaremongering before, haven't you?
[NZH]
