All Blacks lose Kaino for Ireland Test

“I don’t think we have that many new tricks”, Schmidt said, replying to New Zealand coach Steve Hansen’s expectation that Ireland would have a couple up their sleeve.

“I think it’s about looking at our circle and yeah you maybe don’t have a rake of players that are nominated for world player of the year or even European player of the year last year, but when you look around our circle, we have a lot of experience”, he said.

“Obvioulsy the team’s not picked yet, I don’t know if I’m in it or not, but Ultan really put his hand up for selection, he played really well”.

However, Sexton said this greater pool of talent is crucial if they are to win a Six Nations Grand Slam or a World Cup – a plethora of injuries robbed them of key players for the World Cup quarter-final a year ago against Argentina and they were overwhelmed by a rampant Pumas side.

“It’s got to be more, so we put that pressure on ourselves internally and we’ve made sure that everything we covered two weeks ago, we’ve covered that and more”. I’d say they’ll do a little bit more research behind the scenes on us.

New Zealand will aim to summon Jonah Lomu’s smiling assassin spirit when seeking revenge over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

“It’s great for the Lions next year that we’ve now got 23 Irishmen that have beaten the All Blacks and know what that feels like, so they can go into games with a degree of confidence”. As for Ireland, everyone knows where they stand, and that is shown by the one forced change for Saturday’s match in Dublin.

“You’d love to think that we’re favourites wouldn’t you?” said Schmidt.

“When the All Blacks lose the New Zealand public goes into mourning for a period of time”. I don’t think that’s going to happen and I don’t think Joe Schmidt will let that happen. “Last year we beat South Africa and Australia back to back but that is performance drives”.

Dagg’s selection on the wing is created to prevent Ireland’s impressive high-ball work, his comfort at full-back and under the garryowen a boost to the defensive qualities in New Zealand’s back-three. Team manager Mick Kearney provided more good news, announcing that there were no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s fixture, although prop Jordi Murphy, a casualty of the last meeting between these sides, will remain out of the squad. Hansen will be aware that despite his achievements with this All Black team during the past 12 months, his future as national coach will be called into question by his hypercritical nation should they fail a second time against the Irish.

New Zealand, the back-to-back World Cup winners, were out-fought, outmanoeuvred and ultimately outscored as Joe Schmidt’s men had 11 points to spare in a 40-29 win.

“I grew up in the area where he was from and played his footy”.

If Ireland want to repeat their Chicago feat, much will depend on the performance of their forwards and halfbacks Connor Murray and Johnny Sexton who were both superb in the previous encounter between these sides.

“I just have to train fully, and if there’s anything that will come up it will come up in that”.