New Zealand coach Ian Foster applauded the Ireland team for presenting All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock with a signed shirt to give to the family of the recently deceased player Sean Wainui.
The 25-year-old rising star died aged 25 in a car crash last month, plunging New Zealand rugby into mourning.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton presented his All Blacks counterpart Sam Whitelock with the jersey following the hosts 29-20 victory at a packed Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
“It was a special and classy gesture by Ireland,” said Foster at the post-match press conference. “It was well-meaning and appreciated.”
Sexton said they had decided to do it a while ago and approached the All Blacks.
“We would have liked to have done it before the haka,” said Sexton. “We have lost people close to us too, so we contacted them.
“They said that some of the players are still a bit raw due to the loss and can you do it after the game.
“We just wanted to make a gesture.”
Wainui represented the Maori All Blacks and began his Super Rugby career with the Crusaders.
He joined the Chiefs in 2018 and in June this year scored five tries against the Waratahs in a 40-7 rout in Sydney, setting a record for the most tries by a player in a single match.
© Agence France-Presse
