Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll admits that he cannot see Andy Farrell’s side getting a victory over the All Blacks in Chicago this weekend.
Despite New Zealand’s own struggles over the past couple of years and the Irishmen’s impressive record against Saturday’s opponents since 2016, the 46-year-old concedes that there are things which concern him.
O’Driscoll stated that Leinster’s 31-14 home loss to Munster “gave us all a bit of a shock” and raised questions as to whether Ireland’s best days under Farrell are behind them.
Ireland selection
Rather remarkably just two Munster players – Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne – are in the XV to face the All Blacks with their big provincial rivals having a staggering 12.
“I was never in an Irish environment where there was as many Leinster players, so it’s actually quite difficult to know what the feeling is with someone like him (Crowley) or Tadhg Beirne or Stuart McCloskey because they’re the only three non-Leinster starters,” the Ireland legend told Off The Ball.
“If you look at what’s happened so far – okay the games in South Africa, none of those Leinster players were involved – but that defeat to Munster would have really stung.
“It gave us all a bit of a shock, maybe not to Munster players, but it did, it just took a little bit of energy out; where are we going? Is there a decline piece here?”
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O’Driscoll did ultimately put the nature of the loss down to it being a “one-off game” where Munster “were just up for it more”, but states that the reaction from those Leinster stars is the “really important thing.”
The fly-half debate has been constant since the emergence of Sam Prendergast, but it is Crowley who has been entrusted with the responsibility this weekend.
Crowley obviously needs a good performance to justify his inclusion but O’Driscoll insists that it is also up to his team-mates to provide him with a good platform to play off.
Give Crowley an ‘armchair ride’
“James Lowe didn’t have his best game, Jamison Gibson-Park needs to remind us of why people think he’s one of the best scrum-halves in the world,” he said.
“It’s for all of those players to make sure that Jack is given as much of an armchair ride as he can because he’s earned it.
“There’s a responsibility on everyone else to give him options, to be eyes for him, to carry hard and make sure he’s in the right positions rather than clearing rucks or making an excessive amount of tackles.”
As for the outcome, O’Driscoll suggests it would not be a surprise should Ireland emerge triumphant, given their success under Farrell, but that he expects the All Blacks to come out on top.
“I’m intrigued by how it’s going to go. As much as we’re maybe not expecting a victory, or certainly I’m not, it wouldn’t shock you if they did because it’s an Andy Farrell team and they’ve done it consistently for a long time,” he said.