Hansen thrilled with All Blacks’ response to adversity

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Toner believes Ireland must take heart from toppling the back-to-back world champion All Blacks in America, and then running them close in Dublin just two weeks later. More needs to come from the man just announced as World Rugby Player of the Year.

Simple it definitely wasn’t but New Zealand have proven that any talk of their demise was greatly exaggerated.

Hansen praised his side’s defence as they managed to shut Ireland out during a bruising 80 minutes in which the home team dominated possession and territory. However, the challenge for Ireland will be repeating those heroics in front of their own supporters in Dublin.

As expected Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has gone with his History Boys XV of a fortnight ago, the only change being the selection at flanker of Sean O’Brien in place of the injured Jordi Murphy.

Jerome Kaino is out with a calf strain, which is a huge chunk of experience gone from the New Zealand pack, but the flying mullet, Liam Squire, comes in to fill the No.6 role.

New Zealand have been able to summon fit-again lock duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock for the Dublin showdown. Andrew Trimble, 13. Jared Payne, 12.

Ireland, meanwhile, used the precise kicking game of Johnny Sexton to generate offensive driving mauls and build an ultimately unassailable lead. Iain Henderson, 20. Josh van der Flier, 21.

Sexton stormed down the tunnel with a hamstring injury and on came Paddy Jackson.

Aaron Smith had another awful day at the office for New Zealand. Anton Lienert-Brown, 11. Julian Savea, 10.

First-team regulars such as Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and Dane Coles will all reappear at the Aviva Stadium, as will skipper Kieran Read. Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick will return to do all of the dirty work. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19.

“I think in Chicago we turned up five per cent off mentally, and we got punished for it”.

“Most of our blokes” took part in a victory parade for the Cubs’ World Series win and their coach says it cost them on the field against Ireland.

“Do I think we can beat New Zealand again?” Not that we’re allowed to indulge in that. I thought our kicking was much better today than it was in Chicago and we ran at their defense, who didn’t seem to be keen on tackling, but preferring to wrest the ball off us. We trained in icy, sleety conditions (Thursday morning).

“We’ve just got to forge our way past it, the decisions that get made”.

“I don’t think so, I know Steve pretty well”, said Schmidt, rejecting the suggestions of mind games from Hansen.

“While there was obvious disappointment at the loss in Chicago, disappointment doesn’t win test matches – it’s about having great preparation and attitude, and delivering on the day”.

Captain Rory Best, playing his 99th Test, said he had asked referee Jaco Peyper to refer New Zealand’s third try – Malakai Fekitoa’s second – to the TMO up above as he suspected there was a forward pass in the move.