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LONDON. — England and South Africa may be in opposition this weekend but both camps were united in lauding Ireland’s stunning victory over world rugby champions New Zealand.Ireland’s 40-29 win in Chicago on Saturday was their first victory over the All Blacks in 111 years of trying and also ended New Zealand’s record-breaking run of 18 straight Test wins by a top-tier nation.

“The biggest thing that Ireland did was they came out of the blocks,” said England scrum-half Ben Youngs, whose side start their end-of-year international campaign against the Springboks this coming Saturday.

“They were very clear, it looked like everyone was on the same page in terms of what they were doing.”

The Leicester No. 9 said Ireland’s success proved the so-called difference in the quality of northern and southern hemisphere rugby union, a matter of concern ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand next year, was smaller than often suggested.

“It shows the gap isn’t as big as people think. Far play to Ireland — 111 years they hadn’t won (against New Zealand). Incredible.”

After such a long drought, the Irish could beat New Zealand twice in a matter of weeks should they defeat the All Blacks in Dublin on November 19. — AFP.