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Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll - Source: Photosport -
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Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll has a theory about why his country has never beaten the All Blacks - and he might not be too far off the mark, reports tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
For a country with nearly an identical population to New Zealand and with a proud enough rugby heritage, it is amazing that Ireland has never beaten the All Blacks in 105 years of trying.
Their history of 21 defeats and one draw against the All Blacks is only superseded by the Scottish, who have the even more unenviable record of 25 defeats and two draws.
However, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll, who is preparing to overturn one of rugby history's almighty hoodoos this Saturday in New Plymouth, has a theory as to why the All Blacks have been so dominant.
"It's their national sport here," O'Driscoll said at a press conference in Auckland today.
Click here for full Irish press conference
"We've got three or four sports before rugby in our country so it's
difficult when you don't have the same numbers playing as they do
here.
"As soon as you come out of the cot you seem to be handed a rugby ball in this country. It's a little bit different in our own country. We play a number of different sports - Gaelic football, soccer and hurling.
"And then you lose a number of players to those codes and then with the 120 odd professionals in our country it's not quite the same numbers to choose from.
"All that points to the balance being swayed in their favour."
The Irish captain makes some fair points in his argument, but the professional player numbers comparison probably isn't one of them.
Ireland, he says, has around 120 professionals, but New Zealand only has approximately 150 full time professionals playing in the Super 14.
Perhaps senior rugby playing numbers offers a better gauge of the rugby landscapes in the two nations.
Ireland has only 11,500 senior rugby players while New Zealand last year had nearly triple that number of 28,258.
However, demographics aside, O'Driscoll finished his well considered spiel with the only numbers that matter.
"At the same time, it is 15 against 15 in the weekend, so you have to treat it as much. "
