Ireland’s incredible victory over New Zealand on Saturday was packed with quality performances all over the field, but James Lowe really caught the eye.
Lowe scored Ireland’s first try in their 29-20 win over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium, and was incredibly busy in both attack and defence, making a decisive tackle late in the game as New Zealand were threatening to break clear.
Lowe was born in New Zealand and even represented the Maori All Blacks on four occasions, making the day even more special for him, if not a little conflicted.
He said: “It’s amazing. Never in a million years did I think that this day was going to come.
“Since I was a kid, I dreamt of being an All Black. It is just a very Kiwi thing to do.
“I gave up that dream. I wasn’t quite good enough when I was at my best, almost, and to be able to come over here and put in a performance against the best team in the world.
“They’re the standard bearers. Words can’t describe. To hear my native country’s national anthem. To stand in front of the Haka. It is a childhood dream.”
Whilst Lowe scored the opening try and made several important carries for Ireland throughout the game, the thing he was most pleased about was a big tackle on Rieko Ioane late on.
The All Blacks were threatening to break Ireland hearts in similar fashion to Ryan Crotty’s try in 2013, but Lowe had other ideas.
He tackled Ioane, stopping him dead in his tracks, and helped Peter O’Mahony turn the ball over, with Joey Carbery then turning that into Ireland points and a six-point lead.
“You always talk about my ‘D’, and I got up and I whacked Rieko and we got the turnover from it,” he added.
“I don’t care about that first try. I don’t care about anything. It was the moment.
“It was 70 minutes, you know; to be able to do everything that I have been doing for the last six or seven months, [and] produce in 70 minutes against the best team in the world.
“That’s what I am happy about.”
