INTERNATIONAL RUGBY: Ireland coach Joe Schmidt dismisses Steve Hansen claims

The All Blacks didn’t learn of the earthquakes that shook New Zealand’s South Island overnight until they arrived in Dublin, where they reached out to family and friends.

The former Ireland captain believes another win is possible but pointed to areas where the All Blacks will have improved in comparison to the last day.

“There’s no better man than Joe to put together a game plan to go and attack them this week”, said Cronin, with Ireland desperate to back up the 40-29 victory at Soldier Field.

Ireland’s historic win in Chicago would have done wonders for their confidence and diluted some of the All Blacks’ unbeatable aura.

Hansen has restored most of the players from shock defeat to the side for Sunday morning’s rematch in Dublin.

“They are extremely well coached and incredibly well prepared physically, and the rate they play at if they have the ball, you’re under pressure if they’ve got it”.

“We are going into the game as the underdogs”, said New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, words that stretch the truth – the All Blacks are $1.10 favourites with bookies – but will still hearten Ireland fans.

Bearing in mind the strengthened New Zealand selection, notably in their secondrow, it’s also less likely that Ireland will nick three throws, which means Ireland will have to generate other access points into the game. “They are smarter”, said Hansen. Is that what they normally do on a Friday before a test match?

“And I’m sure Joe has been in the think-tank with the rest of the coaches devising something special for us”.

That’s the current forecast for Saturday’s game against New Zealand, and no one will be looking more closely at the weather updates than Johnny Sexton.

“I read that they didn’t really look back too much at the defeat to us before playing Italy this weekend”. Both were sorely missed in Chicago not only for their set piece prowess but also their work around the field.

Locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick will be reunited in the second row after recent absences through injury but seasoned flanker Jerome Kaino has been ruled out with a calf strain. With some in the camp talking about the importance of the performance over the result I have to go for the Kiwis. There was no arrogance from them, that is one ex-player shooting from the hip.

Hansen said neither taking the opposition for granted nor his players lacking motivation would be a problem on Saturday.

“Everyone is due a hiccup and we deserved to get in front and the guys rolled their sleeves up but they will not afford us any head start this weekend”.

“We are probably better than the 12 or 13-1 we were in Chicago so maybe comparatively maybe we’re a bit better off, but you certainly wouldn’t put us as favourites”.