Coach says Ireland ready to take on All Blacks

Eddie O'Sullivan says the matches against the All Blacks will be tough. David Rogers / Getty Images

The voice was clear, his comments distinct and forthright. There was no irritating attempt from Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan to grab the low ground as many rugby colleagues do.

We had interrupted his training camp but he had time to touch on a few aspects about Ireland's next attempt to acquire an elusive victory against the All Blacks.

O'Sullivan accepted the observation from All Black assistant Wayne Smith this week that his Irish side would offer a sterner challenge than the Lions last season.

"He is not that far off the mark, even though we got a good pounding in the autumn from the All Blacks," O'Sullivan said. "We missed [Brian] O'Driscoll and [Paul] O'Connell in that game. They are our talismen and the young guys who were thrown in at the deep end were punished.

"We have a much more experienced team, a lot who came out with the Lions and understand what touring New Zealand is all about. That should help us in our quest."

The Irish team arrive in Auckland tomorrow for tests in Hamilton then Auckland before they play the Wallabies in Perth.

A consensus in both hemispheres would have the Irish best equipped to do some damage at Waikato Stadium in their first game against the mix'n'match All Blacks.

There is considered optimism that a visiting side, based on a Munster pack which was successful in the Heineken Cup, backed by a backline of substance, can give the All Blacks some hurry-up in Hamilton. After that, though, the hurdles may be greater.

Doubts about the Irish remain with the scrum and playmakers.

Tighthead prop John Hayes does not offer the most stable platform for the scrum and halfback Peter Stringer and five-eighths Ronan O'Gara are a serviceable partnership but lack a little sting.

The Irish lineout with O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan and Neil Best will put some heat on the All Blacks and O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and others will create difficulties for the local defence.

O'Sullivan likes the mood in the squad, the bond which has emerged from the Triple Crown success, then Munster's triumph.

"There has been some useful ground work there. The players have been managed well and they are not as tired as they might have been. We have also been fortunate with injuries. It is the end of the season but we are about as strong as we can be."

Will that translate into a win?

It remains a question mark for O'Sullivan, who hopes for some huge performances from the squad. "It is a harsh rugby environment in New Zealand, in the best sense of the word," he said.

"The All Blacks are very strong and if you don't get your ducks in a row you will get punished. It will be a tough tour but a fine measure for us and part of building for the World Cup.

"We are happier going to New Zealand rather than having a not-so-difficult tour where we are not tested at all."

Newer faces such as Andrew Trimble in the backs and Denis Leamy in the pack were players O'Sullivan felt would revel in the touring environment.

The increasing numbers the All Blacks could call on and the skill levels among those players had earned them the highest respect throughout the rugby world.

O'Sullivan said the All Blacks would miss Tana Umaga but he had not played against Ireland last November and his absence did not affect the scoreline.

"Graham Henry proved in the autumn he could swap his teams around and that is no slight on us. He is the envy of most international coaches," he said.

"I don't see him making selection changes, making our task any easier. Graham proved that in Lansdowne Rd last year."

Only six All Blacks who played in that match are in line to return for next Saturday's test in Hamilton. O'Sullivan said a lack of information about the rest was a handicap for the Irish analytical staff. "I am firmly of the opinion - and I am not being patronising about this - that changing an All Black team does not weaken it."