All Blacks look for fresh start against Ireland
The chastened All Blacks were looking for a fresh start and Ireland were hoping for a refreshed captain as both sides rounded off preparations Friday for their one-off rugby Test.
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll threw a scare into his side's camp when he was forced to sit out their final training run because of dizzy spells, but later declared he expected to be fully fit for Saturday night's Test in New Plymouth.
"I feel OK, a bit better than last night so I'll be grand in another 24 hours," he said on arrival at the ground to watch the end of Ireland's training session.
"Last night I felt a little bit dizzy and went to bed, felt a bit better this morning, so just took a bit more medication and I'll be grand."
Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks in a rivalry covering 22 Tests over the past 105 years, but they see a glimmer of hope this year as the first up opponents of a below-par All Blacks side.
Eight senior All Blacks are sidelined by injury, there are three Test debutants in the run-on side and three more on the bench and the All Blacks are traditionally sluggish early in the season.
Preparations this year were not helped by none of their Super 14 franchises meeting expectations -- although two made the play-offs -- which drew howls of criticism in the local media.
The sub-par build up was acknowledged by captain Richie McCaw who said it was time to wipe the slate clean.
"The teams didn't play to the standard we are after so we start the season again," he said, adding he believed there was more intensity in the squad now than when they lost their season opening Test to France a year ago.
"We're probably in better nick than we were this time last year.
With wet cold weather forecast, the game is likely to be an intense forward struggle and O'Driscoll said that would decided the outcome.
"Games are won and lost by the front five. Your forwards decide games and the backs decide by how much."
But O'Driscoll refused to be drawn into a slanging match with All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen who claimed his side would physically dominate Ireland.
"They're obviously hugely confident in the ability of the team they've selected. You'd have to ask Steve Hansen about that," O'Driscoll said.
"We'll quietly sit in the background and hope the experience we have in the likes of (prop) John Hayes and (locks) Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll, they can at least match if not get the better of the New Zealand front five."
McCaw, meanwhile, played down the dizziness affecting O'Driscoll, the match-winning Ireland centre, when questioned about Ireland's strengths.
"They've got the ability, especially their outsides with the ball in hand. You give them space to counter-attack, and if you don't get your defence right, they've certainly got players who can hurt you."
Teams (15-1)
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks.
Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Zac Guildford.
Ireland: Robert Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, John Muldoon, Mick O'Driscoll, Donncha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Sean Cronin, Cian Healy.
Reserves: John Fogarty, Tony Buckley, Dan Tuohy, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Geordan Murphy.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (ENG)
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Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll is eager to lead his side to their first World Cup semi-final... Read Full Story »
