Indeed Ireland's 'Mr. Invisible' had even scored an RWC 2023 quarter-final try against the Kiwis who, naturally, only had eyes at the time for their own Aaron Smith.
The debate that has lit up a nation down under - just who is the best 'NZ no9' in world rugby Indeed Ireland's 'Mr. Invisible' had even scored an RWC 2023 quarter-final try against the Kiwis who, naturally, only had eyes at the time for their own Aaron Smith.
Little doubting who the best scrum-half in the world has been for the last three seasons: he was French, called Antoine Dupont, and he positively sparkled for France. Just as there was little doubt who the best New Zealand-born scrum-half in that period was, he was Jamison Gibson-Park, who had become central to Leinster and Ireland following Johnny Sexton's retirement. Wherein lies the tale of a player the Kiwis hadn't noticed prior to 2024.
He was another among the exports and ex-pats playing rugby in almost every rugby national across the world. Indeed this particular 'Mr. Invisible' had even scored an RWC 2023 quarter-final try against the Kiwis who, naturally, only had eyes at the time for their own Aaron Smith. Smith made 124 All Black appearances before his retirement directly following that World Cup - he retired acknowledged as an All Black great.
As it stands, Ireland have played and lost to New Zealand twice since, 13-23 in Dublin in 2024 and 13-26 Chicago in 2025. The first defeat saw JGP opposite Cortez Ratima and it was clear who the best no9 was, it was the Leinster star by air miles.
Indeed those wondering about cause and effect at half-back in the game, Jack Crowley playing his eighth consecutive game for Ireland had a very poor outing; by contrast, NZ no10 Damian McKenzie was Man of the Match. The Chicago game was blighted by Tadhg Beirne's third minute red card but, fired by Gibson-Park, Ireland still led as the hour passed and were finally defeated by 62nd, 67th and 77th minute tries.
All of New Zealand noted Gibson-Park, who was subbed after 67 minutes having gotten the better of Cam Roigard albeit the Kiwi got the last laugh with that final try to close out the game. The Rematch, Solider Field, Chicago, United States of America 1/11/2025 Ireland vs New Zealand All Blacks New Zealand’s Cam Roigard scores their fourth try despite Caelan Doris of IrelandIt is a tipping of the balance that the 25 year-old Roigard - who was outstanding in the Nations Championship win over France and excellent against Italy - will want to maintain when squaring up against the 34-year-old Gibson Park.
That's in the face of being able to dismiss his coach Dave Rennie saying Gibson-Park is one of the best scrum-halves in the world - that's just pre-match jockeying isn't it? What he does not want is 50,000 All Blacks fans and a wider TV audience proclaiming he only the second best Kiwi scrum-half out there if things go wrong in Eden Park!
“He's a pretty special player, isn't he? ” says Gibson-Park of what's been seen as a breakthrough for Roigard of late.
“He's kind of really burst onto the scene in the last couple of years and he's played some outstanding footy. “But it's always great to come up against lads who are at the top of their game, which is what we'll face this weekend. ”Their last four outings has seen wins over South Africa , Australia , France and Italy while Ireland are seen as a worthy fifth scalp.
Says Gibson-Park of Ireland being directed to Auckland where New Zealand have not been defeated since 1994: “Not just any team gets to run out on Eden Park.
"They have the streak for a reason, it's a very tough place to win so we'll have our work cut out for us. “They're playing some good footie, fairly expansive and they're pretty happy to have a crack from deep. ” “But we're under no illusions as to how tough it's going to be. We obviously had a crack at it in ‘22 and we got shown up pretty well that day.
So it's pretty cool to get another crack at it.
" Ireland's last win over the All Blacks was Wellington in 2022, part of a two-games, first-ever series win in New Zealand. This had led to high hopes that they could post another win when the RWC 2023 quarter-final came about but it was not to be as Ireland came up four points short.
"There's a few different things going on over that kind of period. You speak about the World Cup, which is the biggest game there is, and it's fine margins.
"And then I suppose they came over to us two Novembers ago, and same again, start of a campaign for us and we struggled to get going. Same again last year in November in Chicago.
"But the reality is we've come up against a better team, and they're looking pretty strong again, so it's going to be a massive challenge. ” Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond
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