All Black hero Fitzpatrick calls on Irish tofinally do talking on the pitch
Fitzpatrick: Ireland warning
New Zealand's legendary former captain Sean Fitzpatrick has warned Ireland that it is time to put up or shut up as the tourists seek to end their ignominious 105-year winless streak against the All Blacks tomorrow.
The prodigious ex-hooker was capped a record 92 times for the All Blacks and was first handed the captaincy during the 1992 campaign when Ireland came agonisingly close to ending their unenviable losing streak in that year's first Dunedin test.
Before and since then, Ireland have played a good game off the pitch, but rarely looked like converting on it, even when Fitzpatrick's long-time understudy Warren Gatland led his side to a significant lead in the 2002 encounter at Lansdowne Road. "Ireland need to go out and play with enthusiasm and put pressure on the All Blacks," declares Fitzpatrick. "And not just for 60 minutes, but for 80 minutes. It's all very good talking about it. It's a different thing to go out and do it."
Beating the All Blacks is the one remaining box left to be ticked by the golden generation as they prepare for one last tilt at a World Cup in which their most recent efforts fell so dram-atically short under Eddie O'Sullivan.
The former coach's over-arching desire to achieve a southern hemisphere win thieved from any realistic plan to develop a stronger panel ahead of the French farce in 2007; ironically, his successor has now headed south with experimentation foisted upon him thanks to a horrendous injury list.
However, the home side are not inured to the disease and their own injury woes have prompted many to predict that it is now or never for an Ireland side seeking to strike a major blow against southern hemisphere hegemony a year out from the World Cup, mirroring England's resourceful submission of the All Blacks in Wellington seven years ago.
"They've obviously got a chance," Fitzpatrick adds. "It's a good chance for them to try to do like England did to take down then strongest squad and try to knock off the All Blacks.
"But it's more about giving these guys exposure ahead of the World Cup. It's a huge opportunity for them and they have to believe.
"And traditionally New Zealand they've been cold starters at this time of the year. They (Ireland) nearly caught us in Dunedin in 1992 and in 2006 both tests were pretty close until the final quarter as I remember.
"They haven't done it yet, but perhaps this is the chance. They're obviously disappointed with the injuries and the fact they didn't finish the Six Nations in great style. I wouldn't say Declan Kidney was best pleased with that.
"It is one of the most remarkable records in international rugby, especially now considering the number of times they play each other. But in years gone by, New Zealand have always been very strong. And each time there's the added motivation for every team that they don't want to be one of the guys that will be remembered as having lost to Ireland."
As a former front-rower of rugged intent who led his side on a record 51 occasions, Fitzpatrick will have a keen eye on the forward exchanges in New Plymouth, where the Crusaders-dominated front five will be seeking to stamp their authority on the Irish.
While Cian Healy's freakish abilities in the weights room are the stuff of legend in the Irish camp, the Franks -- loosehead Ben and tighthead Owen -- who are becoming the first brothers to wear the silver fern since Robin and Zinzan Brooke, apparently manage to match each other with 500lb lifts!
"The two Franks guys are serious young operators and they've done very well for the Crusaders this season," says Fitzpatrick of the pair given the nod ahead of Neemo Tialata and Tony Woodcock as the country continue to reel from the news that Carl Hayman has spurned the lure of a World Cup medal for Toulon's moneybags.
"We've been through a few props this season and we're not really over-endowed in that department. Tony Woodcock is not fully fit and it's an area we need to develop ahead of next year. It's a great opportunity for them.
"Carl Hayman not returning is a huge loss for us. He's world class and probably the best No 3 in world rugby, not just from a scrummaging point off view, but in his line-out work as well.
"New Zealand rugby tried to get him back and they did the best they could but obviously Toulon made him an offer he couldn't refuse. I just hope he doesn't regret it in the future."
And that's because, despite Fitzpatrick believing Ireland have a "chance" of upsetting the odds tomorrow, in his opinion only France of the northern hemisphere sides can realistically challenge the southern hemisphere's big three at next year's World Cup. "I think the pressure will be an advantage. We used that pressure in 1987 the right way, it's a good pressure to have. It's not suffocating pressure, it's pressure to perform and expecting to win," he says.
"We obviously have injury concerns and we don't have the strength in depth that we once had. But if we have our best 15 on the pitch, then they're good enough to win it."
- Sean Fitzpatrick is a studio expert for the New Zealand v Ireland match on Sky Sports 1/HD1 from 8.0am tomorrow.
- David Kelly
Irish Independent
