Five talking points from Ireland's win over New Zealand

Yeah the Irish support did not surprise me at all. A heap of Irish there & in Australia. Far more living outside of Ireland than in Ireland itself, due to various migration waves.

One thing that struck me as odd about the build up is that Hansen kept mentioning the possibility of Ireland winning and Gregor Paul wrote a few articles about the threats laying ahead on the Northern tour. I wonder if there was a feeling within the coaching staff that a loss was likely on this tour. The game reminded me of two distinct tests. The first was England smashing us in 2012 and the second was a much less known test from 2006 when South Africa defeated us in Rustenburg. The All Blacks had beaten the Boks rather handedly in Pretoria and were on a 16 match winning streak. If they'd won the match they would have tied the tier one record for consecutive wins. But it proved a bridge too far and I remember So'iaolo, in particular, having a really poor game. There were also shades of South Africa's mastery over the All Blacks in 2009. But what was with that guy saying this is the worst season since '98? Overreaction much?

Richie made it legal

To call it a friendly is nonsense. It doesn't exist in Rugby. You don't go out to avoid getting injured, not play for rankings points, don't make heavy contact and name 12 subs like they do in Football.

Can't see why not. For Geoff to call it a fluke is patronising in the extreme.

Schmidt has a son with severe epilepsy, he had a brain tumour removed when he was 6. He has a lot of seizures each day. He has stated that since being named Irish head coach he is able to spend time with his family at home and his son has a really strong support network at his school. Taking a coaching job in NZ, ABs or Super Rugby will mean being on the road a lot away from his family. He recently stated that such decisions are out of his control and not about personal ambition. He did spend time in NZ after the SA tour to think about his future and his daughter is still there. I am not sure if his son Tim is still in Ireland as he was in the Terenure 1st XV a few years back.

'SA will never play Japan again. Ever.' May end up in the same pool at the RWC if you lose to England. The seedings draw is after the 6 Nations which favours the European teams due to playing 5 extra games while Super Rugby is on. The rankings do shift there. Wales, Scotland and France have to perform.

A lot of the close defeats to NZ in the past two decades have been down losses of concentration in key moments. Letting in Savea for a soft try before half time in Dublin in 2013 killed the momentum, didn't score any points in the second half and kicked away a knock on advantage in to touch(didn't get the ball again after that) with two mins left on the clock rather than taking the scrum and keeping possession. O'Gara missed 6 shots in NZ when Ireland had you on the ropes, few of those shots were in front. Against other teams he nailed those kicks. 2012 Ireland gave away a scrum penalty in ChCh right in front to Carter of all kickers. That ended up being the winning margin.

Never would have lost to the French? Get your hand off it.... NZ were comfortably ahead by half time in that game.

"Moody could easily have been sent off for the tip tackle under the letter of the law so was lucky not to have got a second yellow." No, by the letter of the law it was a clear yellow cause he didn't land on his head or neck. The high tackle was only just a penalty and was probably closer to nothing at all than a 2nd yellow, to be honest.

1. He saw the ball grounded and there was a photo of it after the game. It should have been a penalty try in any case as there were countless AB infringements. 2. Agreed, could have easily been disallowed same for the first NZ try. Slight knock on on the pick up and Reed took out Stander off the ball. 3. Moody could easily have been sent off for the tip tackle under the letter of the law so was lucky not to have got a second yellow. 4. How did NZ manage to avoid a second yellow card for all their infringements at the maul and ruck? They conceded 12 penalties to 4.

Yes be interesting to see if Ireland can back that up against Oz or NZ at home. History usually sees a side that beats the ABs lose fairly quickly soon after, the main reasons being the side playing them realises they're playing a side that just beat the ABs and the side itself either has played its best match for a while or has...understandably...overvalued itself in terms of its relationship with other non AB sides and they often come down quickly with a thump. I think that will happen here. Ireland will be a marked side for the next few matches and I think the AB win will be put into context more.

Not surprised at the number of Irish jerseys & flags in the crowd.Interesting stat mentioned by the commentators. 34 million Americans claim to be from Irish descent.....amazing!!!

I blame the coverage on BT Sport (rubbish) and the pub I watched it in - never going back there again.

Good stuff Digger - yes the lineout was a shambles first 35 mins or so, and I doubt we'll be seeing Jerome Kaino at second row again as a starter. Not his fault but he doesn't have the core attributes for international lock, esp opposite one big bloke and one skyscraper in the Ireland lineout!

NV, if a team puts on 40 against the AB's, history suggests they win! Including last weekend, it has only been achieved 5 times in 113 years and each time the team that put on 40 against the AB's have won.

NV, not sure about that. It has been reported that NZRU wanted Joe Schmidt back having always been thought to be an outstanding prospect, but with Hansen resigning until 2019, Schmidt was looking, I guess for some security. Under Schmidt since 2013, Ireland have won two 6 Nations Championships under his leadership. Schmidt's first head coaching role in Europe was with Leinster Rugby, beginning in 2010 (following Michael Cheika). He brought unprecedented success to the province, reaching six finals and winning four trophies in three years. He was previously an assistant coach with the Blues and Clermont Auvergne. He also was in charge of Ireland's 1st ever win in South Africa this year. If he is to have any chance of coaching the AB's in the near term, NZRU will need to change their stance that the AB coach must come from one who has S18 coaching experience. Same applies to David Rennie (another master coach imo) but Rennie is ambitious and I think will be Head Coach or not at all. I doubt he accept a subordinate position unless it was was a very short term. Rennie is a very successful coach in NZ heading the NZ Juniors and winning two Super titles with the Chiefs. I see Hansen has 'endorsed' Foster ... Ian Foster was in charge of Waikato Chiefs for, by memory about 6-7 years and achieved very little. I in fact shuddered at his appointment as assistant coach but mellowed with the appointment of the Professor, Wayne Smith (with whom I credit plenty for the AB's golden era). I know coaches can improve (as can players) as Steve Hansen has shown (remembering he had 11 straight losses coaching Wales) but not sure Ian Foster is the 'best candidate' when Shag decides to call it quits. Ahhh such is the politics of NZ Rugby