Aisle Be Back: Italy

Of all the positives to come out of the defeat by the Irish, I'd say the biggest is that this All Blacks team can safely not claim to be the greatest ever.

They're an extremely good side. They've set a world mark, and produced some great attacking rugby.

But the greatest? That's a burden they should never have had slung around their necks so early.

Would Richie McCaw's All Blacks have finished the comeback job on Sunday? Probably. They were pretty used to digging themselves out of holes, so the self- belief was fierce.

No surprise that the Read All Blacks faltered in the last 10, given that there were a fair few players still pretty green at test level. This was not the best possible combo to start with, because of injury, and further injuries made it even more difficult during the game.

Considering that, they did remarkably well to storm back to within four.

But there are a few issues that will have to be addressed over the next couple of years - the most glaring of which is the midfield and the right mix.

And the niggling question for me is whether this team will get that steeliness and smarts combination going that marked out the latter McCaw years.

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Can the Irish do it again in Dublin. You wouldn't say no, now, would you.

I know the narrative is that the All Blacks backlash will be fierce, and no doubt it will - along with a few more tactical gears being engaged.

The challenge for Joe Schmidt is whether he can out-think Steve Hansen again. And whether his players can back up.

He's already noted that Ireland caught the All Blacks when they were a bit vulnerable.

I was reminded on Sunday of when the All Blacks went to France in 1977 and were expected to struggle against a pretty useful home side. Jack Gleeson's side responded by simply out-thinking the French in the second test to level the series. Of course they had to execute the plan brilliantly. Just as the Irish did.

It all boils down to the wonderful return this season of something I haven't felt during the past few months - anticipation!

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So on to Rome. Italy's my favourite European country, and it's a shame they seem to be going sideways if not backwards since stepping upto Six Nations status.

However the last time the All Blacks played there, in 2012, they struggled to subdue in particular the Italian pack.

You'll remember Wyatt Crockett got a particular working over in the scrums.

I do believe that's where he picked up the nickname The Walking Penalty. Cruel, but it always make me smile.

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.