Rugby: Irish eyes on rising prospects

Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll and his teammates see playing the All Blacks as a huge challenge. Photo / Greg Bowker

Jetlagged or not, Ireland are all on the same buoyant page about tickling up the All Blacks this weekend.

Nothing fancy, just a resolve they could alter the records which show Ireland with a solitary draw in 1973 against 21 defeats since the sides began their international duels.

The visitors were whacked with further injury from their weekend game against the Barbarians, but also noted the All Blacks were starting their programme with a few defections. Flanker David Wallace said his side carried no baggage about a losing hoodoo.

Rectifying that 75-year blight was not their sole motivation on this trip.

"It is not really in the forefront of our minds. Every time we play the All Blacks it is a huge challenge in itself in terms of playing them physically and skilfully," Wallace said.

"We just have to focus on what we can do, the processes that we have to go through and make sure we know all the calls, know what we are doing pattern-wise, know what we are going to do and then we fulfil all those things we say we are going to do and try and win the game.

"Getting sidetracked by creating history and all that - I think just playing the All Blacks and trying to do that is huge motivation in itself."

Within hours of reaching Auckland yesterday, most of the squad had been to the gym and all had a practice hitout at Mt Smart as they looked to adjust to time zones and rugby conditions on the other side of the world.

This latest Irish expedition is both a dress-rehearsal for their World Cup visit next season and a chance to end their long season in credit.

Senior players Jerry Flannery and Shane Horgan were due to have midweek scans and tests on their injury woes and could yet join the tour for the second match against the NZ Maori. Five-eighths Johnny Sexton was recovering from his jaw infection and should be available for Saturday's test in New Plymouth.

"It was always going to be tough ... but we are still confident with the squad we have," assistant coach Alan Gaffney said. "We are confident in our abilities but it will be a tough day at the office obviously."

The All Blacks had also suffered but they were always a very difficult side to beat and their players were in good form. Ireland had been developing player depth in recent years and this trip was a test of those resources.

Wallace said losing successive matches, as they had, was a rare occurrence in the past few years and that made this weekend's task even greater. It would sharpen their focus even more and demand they deliver on the lessons from their defeats.

Missing someone of Paul O'Connell's experience and clout in the pack would hurt but there were others moving into the forwards who had to step up to international class.

Wallace accepted it would be a challenge adapting to the global law interpretations. Ireland had not had much experience of them but had no option.

"We have to adapt, there is nothing more to it than that," he said. "We've just got to get on with it and not be complaining about it."

Manager Paul McNaughton defended his side's decision to stay in Auckland until Thursday evening.

It was never an issue, he said of choosing Auckland ahead of New Plymouth. It was a case of working out what was the best recovery itinerary for the side and Ireland were happy with their decision.

Gaffney said there were new faces in the All Blacks and some valued experienced players missing.

"But irrespective of that ... and while they have just got together, we still expect a very, very strong performance at the weekend."