Former Super Rugby Coach Has Some Huge Praise For Joe Schmidt’s Ireland

Can anybody defeat the All Blacks right now?

The reigning world champions have bulldozed their way through all forms of opposition in recent months on their way to a test win record. Many teams have tried and many have failed including the likes of southern hemisphere giants, Australia and South Africa.

The new breed of All Blacks seems to be even better than the golden era that won last year’s Rugby World Cup, but one former Super Rugby coach reckons if any team can beat them right now, it’s Joe Schmidt’s Ireland.

Todd Blackadder spent many years with the Crusaders, coaching the likes of All Black legends Dan Carter and Richie McCaw over the years. Now with Premiership side Bath, he reckons Ireland could be the team to finally beat the All Blacks.

Speaking to Omnisport, Blackadder said:

I would say if you just looked at form, you would think not many teams could beat them. But if they think they are unbeatable they will probably get beaten, so it’s probably more of a mind thing than anything else.

But I don’t sense that the All Blacks are a team that would take anything for granted, they’ve got a record and they want to keep on winning…

I think if anyone can challenge them it is more likely to be Ireland. Ireland will come together and they play them in two games, which is very different when you play in a little mini-Test series. The last time they played, Ireland pushed the All Blacks really close and that shows that on any given day there is a chance you can narrow the gap.

If you look at the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks were so far ahead of their rivals. But I still think that coming to the northern hemisphere and playing Ireland in Chicago and Dublin, the All Blacks will certainly have to be on their game.

Does Blackadder have a point? Ireland take on New Zealand in Chicago on November 5th.