At face value it hardly seems ideal. Reviving memories of the opening Test of the campaign last season – when the All Blacks enjoyed something of a bloodless coup at a Friday night in Aviva decidedly short of feverish – next Saturday week’s clash against the same opponents finds Ireland in even rustier condition.
Take Jack Conan. In the wake of him being one of 18 Irish players on the tour to Australia, the Leinster number eight will make his seasonal reappearance in Soldier Field, Chicago, on Saturday week. Nor he is alone.
“Timing was bad,” he admitted when speaking from Chicago on Thursday about missing Leinster’s defeat by Munster last Saturday in Croke Park after slipping at home and injuring his knee. “Like, I’m fine now, training today.
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