Julian Savea scored a bloody hat-trick of tries on his New Zealand debut and it just happened to be against Ireland.
Asked about that fateful evening at Eden Park in 2012, his recollections are typical of the no-dramas Kiwi attitude.
“Yeah, good memories. I always enjoy playing them. They’re very physical. It’s always a Test match to remember.”
Jesus, relax mate, it was just a HAT-TRICK!
Hardly a misty-eyed hark back to running rampage against the hapless Irish.
Savea will earn his 50th Test cap on Saturday, at Soldier Field, but insists the team come first in all his thoughts. Asked about what makes Ireland [Test record against New Zealand: 0-1-27] so tough, Savea remarks:
“I don’t know. Maybe they hate the colour black.
“They’re really tough and physical. Last time we played them, in 2013, was a tough, close encounter, and I know they want to redeem themselves and show they are one of the top teams.”
Tough. Physical. Ireland.
Has it ever been different for the Kiwis?
The All Blacks have been here since Sunday and are well settled into Chicago life. Savea stayed up past midnight to watch the Chicago Cubs clinch their first World Series penant since 1908.
He enjoyed the spectacle but lost out on some crucial sleep due to the antics down on the streets.
Julian Savea on the glorious chaos of @Cubs in Chicago last night pic.twitter.com/3TmnjD0BdP
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 3, 2016
Savea has played Ireland three times and has ran in four tries. He will be one to watch on Saturday but so will be his other 22 teammates.
He is where Ireland’s problems begin and a massive one at that.
Ireland take on New Zealand from 3pm [8pm Irish time] at Soldier Field on Saturday.
Colm O’Rourke and Pauric Mahony join Colm Parkinson on a packed GAA Hour that includes Dick Clerkin appreciation and Sean Cavanagh envy. Subscribe here on iTunes.
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