Nerves battling it out against curiosity

Whenever NZ plays Ireland, I feel nervous before the match. I feel nervous before any match in which the ABs play. There is a lot at stake. Winning is expected but losing is always a possibility. Just because the demands on the ABs by the NZ public are impossibly high doesn't mean we stop making them on the players.

In the lead up to the test this week, I still come away from last week thinking that was the match that got away from NZ. One can't overstate how impressive that Irish turnaround was. NZ has come to expect that kind of thing playing against France, especially in World Cups. There was ever so briefly a hollow feeling that we had failed to win the World Cup in emphatic style but that was quickly washed away by a tsunami of relief that we had won the thing after so many years.

Last week Ireland put in their most convincing display against NZ that I have ever seen. I am reminded of a story of two Queensland drunks on their way home. They came across a brown snake and it bit one of the two men. They threw a sack over it and started to beat the snake with some sticks. The man poured beer over the bite as if it had magical healing properties and then curiosity got the better of the man with the snake bite and he opened up the sack to see if the snake was dead. It wasn't and the snake promptly bit him again. Astonishingly, the man cheated death and though he is now paralysed, he is still one very lucky man. Maybe it was the beer after all.

So with respect to Ireland tomorrow, I can't help but think I am a bit like that man opening up the sack. Part of me doesn't really know if NZ are going to get bitten by Ireland again tomorrow. But get this: there is a part of me that secretly hopes Ireland do bite NZ. Not to necessarily beat them but to play just as well again to make NZ work hard for their life (read record against Ireland). I normally don't wish the opposition play well against us. I'm more concerned with my team putting in a good performance and usually this means a win for the ABs.

But that was really impressive stuff by Ireland last week and I really do hope that they play well again. But of course I also hope the ABs win. So like the snake, this curiosity to see if Ireland plays well again might well come back to bite me. But so be it.

Enjoy the game tomorrow. Kia kaha

I actually do wish the opposition play well every time. I just hope we play better. That means NZ win but it's a hell of a contest and the more of those the better for the game we love.

Best of luck Ireland. I'm bloody nervous and think that this could be it. If so, congrats, but if not a congrats too for scaring the bejesus out of us.

Well certainly after the game you feel better if the opposition has played well too. But before the match, particularly against SA, Australia and France, usually I settle for us handing out a hiding!

Playing with snakes and sacks should always be avoided before a big game as it weakens the knees.

I think it will be a corker and hope the Irish kick on from last week. NZ are bucking the trend here by remaining strong after the RWC, many teams have not, but without Carter there is every chance a irish team with the bit (and the snake) between its teeth, could just do it

If NZ wins then it's great.
If Ire win then it'll be nice to see such a nice team/nation/people get a triumph, and BOD deserves it.

Just ignore our undefeated streak. It's a win-win situation