Opinion: Let Ireland celebrate, there are no excuses

Ireland players celebrate (Getty Images)
Ireland players celebrate (Getty Images)

Sometimes there is no disgrace in losing. And sometimes it is more important to celebrate success, even if it's the other team that's won. Few, in fact only the most curmudgeonly, will deny Ireland their moment to savour, their day to remember.

Just a few days after the Chicago Cubs broke a 108-year drought, Ireland put to bed 111 years of defeats to the All Blacks in the most convincing of fashion.

Their 40-29 win at Soldier Field was no fluke. There was no controversy to put the result in doubt. There are no excuses for the All Blacks to point to. They were beaten - fair and square.

Sure, they were missing three locks and lost both midfielders during the game, but that is life. That's sport at any level. Steve Hansen won't use that to deflect attention away from his side's first defeat in 19 tests. He will take the loss on the chin, praise Ireland as they deserve to be praised, and move on.

Another run of wins beckons, starting with Italy next week then a rematch against Ireland in Dublin a week later.  What a game that shapes as being.

As much as Ireland deserve praise for their performance at Soldier Field, so too do they deserve thanks for injecting life back in to the international game. Sport needs to be a contest. The result should be in doubt.

Some painted this test as a training run for the All Blacks. How foolish do they look now! Ireland have rejuvenated interest in All Black tests and for that we should say "thank you". They have ramped up the intrigue ahead of next year's tour to New Zealand by the British and Irish Lions in a manner so much more positive than coach Warren Gatland's snide comments ever could.

A war of words between Gatland and Hansen is entertaining, but it's not the contest we all want. That's on the field, and the Irish have given Lions fans hope that next year's series will be a contest - hope that must have faded as Wales were put to the sword by Australia just a few hours earlier.

The All Blacks will respond to this loss because that's what they do. But they have a bit of work to do first. It seems they have lost midfielders Ryan Crotty and George Moala to injury in Chicago, and that will again test their depth just as the absence of locks Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano and Brodie Retallick did.

The All Blacks came up short at lock on Soldier Field, so it will be fascinating to see what happens there now, and how the new combination of Malakai Fekitoa and Anton Lienart-Brown go in the midfield.

There is also pressure on at nine and 10, with halfback Aaron Smith below his best in his first game back since the All Blacks beat South Africa on September 17. TJ Perenara was very good in his absence and was good again off the bench in Chicago, but will Smith be better now he's had a game?

Beauden Barrett remains unconvincing with the boot, but is such a superb runner with the ball he will always remain in the 23. The question for the coaches is whether they revert back to the old ranking of starting Aaron Cruden and bringing Barrett on at fullback for the final 30 minutes. Cruden is a slightly more reliable goalkicker - is that enough to tip the scales his way?

There is plenty for Hansen to ponder. Lots for All Blacks fans to debate and discuss. There is now huge intrigue in the games ahead.  For that we must all say, "Thank you Ireland - thank you."

Newshub.