KEY POINTS:
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw hopes good old fashioned enthusiasm can carry his team through a decidedly tricky start to their year of rugby redemption in Wellington tonight.
Ireland shaped as staunch opponents, just as they were in tests at Auckland and Hamilton in 2006, a season when
the All Blacks were possibly at their peak under coach Graham Henry.
While the vast majority of Ireland's 22 were on that tour, the New Zealand stocks have been severely depleted.
Four new faces and six recalled All Blacks are scattered through tonight's side, who have had less than a week together to prepare for combative, cohesive opponents.
McCaw admitted while the exodus of top New Zealanders overseas was an increasing concern, it hadn't yet been enough to prevent the All Blacks fielding a side of genuine international quality.
"When you look around this team, there's some real talent and excitement there. We are lucky in that regard," he said.
"The excitement of getting back in the All Blacks and getting out on the field will hopefully mean a lot."
Henry takes charge of his 50th All Blacks match and hopes loss number seven won't be the outcome at Westpac Stadium as he and his team embark on a new era.
Henry was asked to reflect on his eight months since their World Cup quarterfinal failure.
He said criticism was the reality for any losing All Blacks coach or player and agreed with McCaw it was vital to look forward rather than wallow in the past.
"We're trying to introduce things into the game that we probably haven't done before," Henry said.
"Some of it hasn't gelled yet but it will.
"There are ways to try to get better at the game you're playing. We've thought about the game over the last 3-4 years, we were always trying to improve then."
Henry's comments will surprise Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll, who was anticipating a bread and butter approach from the All Blacks tonight.
The veteran centre expected Henry was setting about establishing a base and playing style that wouldn't expand until later this year.
"They'll try and keep things fairly simple and build their way into it. I don't think they'll think it's about making a massive statement," O'Driscoll said.
"They'll just want to get their game, their fluidity going well."
Wintry conditions forecast for tonight may favour the visitors and their Munster-based pack.
O'Driscoll reckoned Munster's recent European Cup triumph was reason enough for confidence.
"Winning does become a little bit of a habit and the more games you find yourself in that are very close and you come out on the right side of the result, you know what buttons to push when you find yourself in that situation again," he said.
"The more guys on the pitch that have that mentality, obviously the better."
Munster used repetitive pick and go driving throughout nearly the entire final 20 minutes in the Heineken Cup final defeat of Toulouse and may employ it ad nauseam tonight, particularly if they hit the front, looking for penalties from English referee Chris White under the strict approach the International Rugby Board has advocated this week.
All Blacks No 8 Jerome Kaino, who effectively replaces the retired Jerry Collins, said he was braced to repel his feisty opposites.
"They're not big boys but they're pretty rough around the fringes," Kaino said.
"I'm sure all the Irish boys are quite used to the crash-bash game that they play up in the northern hemisphere."
Ireland's world ranking of eighth hides what a threat that have been to the All Blacks in recent times, notably in the 24-34 loss at Hamilton two years ago in a match they were leading most of the way. It was followed by a tense 17-27 loss at Auckland.
A similar performance from the Irish could yet see them end a 20-test winless record against New Zealand, as well ending the All Blacks' five-year perfect record in home tests.
- NZPA
