Ireland's Caelan Doris runs at the All Blacks. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
All Blacks v Ireland
Kick-off: 9.10am Saturday 9 November
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Live updates on RNZ Sport
New Ireland captain Caelan Doris believes there is no bad blood with the All Blacks following last year's World Cup quarter-final defeat as the teams prepare to meet in Dublin on Saturday morning.
There were words exchanged at the end of the heated knockout fixture in Paris last year, which had followed a historic series win for Ireland in New Zealand in 2022 that set tongues wagging.
The All Blacks captain Scott Barrett believes the home side will be as motivated as ever.
Scott Barrett of the All Blacks. Photo: Nic Bothma/ActionPress
"It was one of the great matches of the World Cup last year. We know what Ireland will turn up with, a willingness to play. They will be looking to put us under pressure and vice-versa," Barrett said.
"There is a lot of feeling, it is test match rugby and two teams that really want to get a result. At times emotions can boil over, you just have to be accurate with your game.
"It is two teams that play a similar game, it is going to be intense. Ireland have been right up there, not just the last few years. In the last 10 years they have been leading the way in a lot of areas.
"This tour is huge for where we are as an All Blacks team. It was a tough game last week (against England) and will be even tougher this week. We are going to have to be better."
Animosity from the last few years has not been a subject in the Ireland dressing room, however.
"You obviously hear about some of the stuff that came out after the game (at the World Cup) but it hasn't been a big thing for us at all this week," Doris told reporters.
"We're very aware of their threats and how good a team they are and how good the individuals are that they have, that's been the focus point more than anything else.
"Every time we play them, there is a good rivalry, mutual respect, these are two good sides going against each other.
"From last Monday when we first came together, it was about our progression, our evolution, getting better, and this is a big test in doing that."
Ireland had never beaten the All Blacks before a 40-29 win in Chicago in 2016. There have been eight meetings since with four victories each.
"When you break new ground in terms of getting a win against them you know you can do it and there is more belief off the back of that," Doris said.
"It's not this thing that you've never gotten near or beaten before. Of course, there is still massive respect because you have to respect them given how good they are but there's also more belief, definitely."
New Zealand's Wallace Sititi looks for a gap. Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
Doris is aware of the threat of the All Blacks loose forward trio at the back of the scrum, something he will have to counter along with flankers Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier.
"Looking at (Wallace) Sititi and obviously (Sam) Cane was world-class against us in the quarter-final, and (Ardie) Savea as well, (Samipeni) Finau off the bench too," Doris said.
"Sititi in particular is a young player who has been class in the Rugby Championship and last week against England. You love testing yourself against other world-class opposition and against very good back-rows as well.
"The three of us against the three of them will be a good challenge."
Ireland have lost just one of their last 26 home Tests since coach Andy Farrell took charge of the team back in 2021 and are currently on a 19-game winning streak in Dublin.
-Reuters/RNZ
