Aisle be back: Chicago

I hope you're not blase about the All Blacks being in Chicago. It's a brilliant location to stage the Ireland game, with I guess Boston being the only venue that could top it for that particular opposition.

I find the way America does sport, as opposed to elections,pretty awesome to watch. Doesn't mean it all makes sense,or is great, but heck, they sure know how to put on the spectacle.

You would of course forgive the locals for being underwhelmed. They have been praying their Cubs can stay alive in baseball's world series, and along the way, end the mother of all curses - the curse of the goat.

Check the tale of the goat out elsewhere, but that particular jinx makes the All Blacks world cup monkey on the back look trivial.

I've been to Chicago twice, and besides its great museums, entertainment, and just in your-face bigness, it is a great sporting city.

Last time I had family living there and they were huge Cubs fans, so of course a visit to Wrigley Field was on the itinerary. It was a wonderful day out - midweek, so no sellout, and the Cubs actually won.

We sat in the bleachers, the cheap seats. A sign read please support the teams "respectfully". Two likely lads spent much of the game disparaging a visiting outfielder loudly, but whenever the very forgiving security man looked like intervening, they'd quickly yell the word "RESPECTFULLY" at the end of their insult.

The ground is ringed by buildings that offer views of the game to varying degrees, and have private stands built on op. These are commercial operations in their own right, so there's a bit of tension with the Cubs owners. I can't imagine how manic the atmosphere would have been at the world series games.

The World Series is now going down to the wire in Cleveland today (Thursday) so by the time the All Blacks roll around this weekend, the city will be nursing a giant hangover either way.

The last Chicago game was against the US Eagles, so it will be interesting to know what mix of fans will be drawn to this game. A couple of world cups ago I met a few US fans - they knew the sport well having played at college level. I guess they're the sorts who might make the trip.

And the Irish of course, well, if you are one of them, you'd have to keep coming to watch wouldn't you. After all, in 2013, they were seconds from their first ever victory. I still can't believe the insanely good try it took to stop it.

++++++++

With the All Blacks locking stocks even more hit with Luke Romano out of the tour, we're looking at some pretty rookie combinations for the Chicago match. It would be an amazing outcome for Vaea Fifita after his barnstorming season if he does debut - probably off thebench - at Soldier Field of all places. But it could be a hard day too because Ireland never seems weak in the middle row.

Now, I know Jordie Barrett is officially the apprentice, but for the love of god, Damian McKenzie must feel like he's been indentured for life. So surely he'll get a start somewhere on this trip.

Reiko Ioane is the other mouth-watering prospect. But of course it doesn't always happen like that on debut. Just remember one Ben Smith who turned in a kind of average first game for the All Blacks against Italy on tour. He seems to have come right since though.

+++++++

So that Canes 2017 squad looks really good, don't you think.

Just like you thought last year's championship winning squad was really good when it was first announced in late 2015.

No, no, no. No you didn't. You didn't know who a lot of them were, and wisely figured they'd be doing well to make the playoffs. You certainly didn't pick Fifita or Fatialofa or Proctor to star.
So it might sound like sports cliches 101 from the coaches yesterday, with talk of building the culture.

Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. This year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title. Now he’s holding out hope that the Wellington Lions can again one of these seasons too. Maybe net year.