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A common expression from the past is “the luck of the Irish”. Irish rugby fans everywhere, however, would be ruing their luck after their national team failed at the death to hold out the mighty New Zealand All Blacks and record an historic first-ever win.
Leading 19-0 after as many minutes and 22-17 with just 90 seconds of injury time remaining, the plucky Irish did everything in their power to repel the black machine. But in the end that black machine was irresistible, plucking victory from the jaws of defeat, as almost all great teams do.
The original expression “luck of the Irish” apparently originated in the second half of 19th century America, where often the most successful gold and silver miners were of Irish extraction.
Scratch a little deeper, however, and the expression was often one of derision, alluding to the fact that sheer luck rather than ability led to their success.
Whether you use the expression literally or figuratively, the Irish bombed out on both counts on the weekend. In their long history, Ireland have played New Zealand 28 times for one lousy draw since the two teams first met back in November 1905.
The famous draw occurred during the All Blacks’ troubled tour of the northern hemisphere in 1972/73.
The match at Lansdowne Road in January 1973 ended in a 10-10 draw. The All Blacks were perhaps unlucky in that they crossed for two tries to one, tries being worth four points back then.
The Irish XV that day is worth recalling, containing in its ranks, some of the greatest players to wear the emerald green: (15) Tom Kiernan (c), (14) Tom Grace, (13) Kevin Flynn, (12) Mike Gibson, (11) Arthur McMaster, (10) Barry McGann, (9) John Moloney, (8) Terry Moore, (7) Fergus Slattery, (6) James Davidson, (5) Kevin Mays, (4) Willie-John McBride, (3) Sean Lynch, (2) Ken Kennedy, (1) Roy McLoughlin.
Many Irishmen would consider Kiernan, Gibson, Slattery, McBride and McLoughlin automatic selections in an Irish all-time XV. Others who also represented the Lions included Grace, Moloney, Lynch and Kennedy. It was a very good Irish team that day.
The only Irish team to ever beat the All Blacks wasn’t a national side, but the provincial team Munster in a tour match in October 1978. So famous was this 12-0 win that it was even turned into a stage play.
The Munster VX that day is also worth recalling: L. Moloney, M. Finn, S. Dennison, G. Barrett, J. Bowen, A. Ward, D. Canniffe (c), D. Spring, C.Tucker, C. Cantillon, B. Foley, M. Keane, l. White, P. Whelan, G. McLoughlin.
Only centre Barrett, prop White and lone try-scoring flanker Cantillon didn’t get to represent Ireland, but they played in an Irish team that beat the All Blacks!
Irish national players have tasted victory against the All Blacks in international matches, but of course, not with Ireland. A select few have achieved this honour playing for the Lions, or on one famous occasion, for the Barbarians in January 1973.
This match, won by the BaBas 23-11 and regarded as one of the greatest rugby matches in history, was played exactly one week after Ireland’s 10-10 draw against the All Blacks and had Gibson, Slattery, McBride and McLoughlin backing up from the Test match.
The first time Irishmen experienced victory against the All Blacks occurred back in June 1930, during the Lions tour of New Zealand.
The Lions won the first Test 6-3 before losing the remaining three. On deck in that first Test win were three Irish forwards: eightman George Beamish, lock Jimmy Farrell and prop Henry O’Neill.
It wasn’t until 1959 that an Irishman again tasted victory against the All Blacks.
This time the Lions won the last Test after being exceptionally unlucky to lose the first, and perhaps the third as well. Irishmen to appear were winger Tony O’Reilly, centre Dave Hewett, scrumhalf Andy Mulligan, flanker Noel Murphy, lock Bill Mulcahey and hooker/captain Ronnie Dawson.
Roll around the triumphant 1971 Lions and successful Irishmen in the Tests were centre Mike Gibson, lock Willie-John McBride and prop Sean Lynch. Onto the troubled 1977 tour and the only Irishman in the Lions’ second Test winning XV was eightman Willie Duggan.
In 1993, once again only one Irishman played in the Lions’ second Test winning XV – prop Nick Popplewell.
Ireland have gone desperately close to beating the All Blacks on several occasions: 0-6 in 1924; 5-6 in 1963; the 10-10 draw in 1973; 6-10 in 1978; 21-24 in 1992 and in the past 18 months, 19-22 in Christchurch 2012 and the weekend past, 22-24 in Dublin.
Legendary Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll has seen his last opportunity to beat the All Blacks denied. Sometimes, life is unfair.
O’Driscoll is the greatest #13 to wear the Ireland emerald green. At present he shares the record for most appearances for Ireland with Ronan O’Gara at 128, plus another eight caps for the Lions.
Against the All Blacks, O’Driscoll has appeared 14 times for 14 losses, plus another loss playing for the Lions.
Perhaps with the passage of time, O’Driscoll will be able to reconcile his disappointment as he walks among fellow past internationals as an equal. Indeed, he would be seen as perhaps slightly more equal than most.
Despite O’Driscoll’s unbelievable individual feats, rugby is ultimately a team game and it was O’Driscoll’s lot in life to play for a country that is often willing, but is rarely able to beat the “big boys”.
O’Driscoll will not leave the game empty-handed, however, having participated in Ireland’s grand slam championship victory of 2009.
This then is Ireland’s lot in the rugby world – sometimes going very close to winning against the All Blacks, but to date still no cigar.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.