Irish tougher: Smith

Ireland will be tougher for New Zealand to beat in November following the change to their Six Nations rugby programme, says All Blacks coach Wayne Smith.

Ireland's remaining three Six Nations games have been held over because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain.

The Six Nations Committee decided Ireland's remaining matches could not be scheduled before the end of this season.

It means Ireland will play Scotland, Wales, England and Samoa in their lead-up to the test against the All Black at Lansdowne Rd on November 17 or 18.

Had it not been for the delay, the Irish would only have had a game against Samoa as their build-up.

Smith said Ireland would be in top shape. "This has fallen into their hands while we go there straight from NPC rugby into a hotbed.

"If things are anything like last year, we will have players struggling following the NPC.

"They need to be creative in the way they prepare for the end-of-year tour and we may need support from NPC coaches," Smith said.

"Ireland were always going to be very tough in Dublin. Now we have a bigger assignment than before."

Smith hoped New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive David Rutherford would soon find ways to compress future seasons so leading players could have "six weeks' holiday and six weeks to prepare."

The All Blacks also play Scotland and Argentina on the tour.

- NZPA