The All Blacks Are In Chicago, And Hardly Anyone Knows

Photo credit; Youtube/Newshub.

Even if you're a White Sox fan, there's only one sports story in the Chicago at the moment: the Cubbies being in the World Series.

As of today, the Cubs are 3-2 behind the Cleveland Indians going into Game 6 back in Ohio tomorrow. Neither team have won a World Series for more than seven decades, with the Cubs streak infamously stretching back to 1908.

Their rise this year, fueled by the likes of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, is stuff of sporting dreams. So to is the absolute dominance of the All Blacks, who have won 18 straights tests - a world record for a tier one rugby nation.

The All Blacks are in Chicago this week to prepare for their test against Ireland on Sunday NZT, but you'd hardly know that.

Build-up in the Chicago daily papers for the game is minimal, with both the Tribune and Sun-Times swamped by World Series, NFL and college football coverage.

There's been some guff in Kiwi media about the ABs going to a Chicago Bulls game, but, overall, national American media has shown very little interest in New Zealand returning to the city they played USA in, in 2014.

Some All Blacks attended a Chicago Bulls game this week. Source: Youtube.

The All Blacks are getting some cursory attention by clubs and youth groups in the area, but their visit has hardly captured the city's imagination.

Chris Rattue, of the New Zealand Herald, poked fun at an under-whelming press conference that saw All Black hookers Dane Coles and Cody Taylor struggle to sell the sport.

"The two hookers talked in typical rugby mumble-speak about the new locking combo of Lukey (Luke Romano) and Paddy (Patrick Tuipulotu)," Rattue wrote.

"Beyond making the Mad Butcher an All Black for a day, it's hard to know what to do. All Blacks aren't renowned as natural salesmen, or ones that would count in fast-talking American sport. And they are up against it."

The All Blacks and Irish will meet at Chicago's famed American football ground Soldier Field, which has a capacity of around 60,000. Tickets are understood to still be available for the test.