Irish eye best chance to beat All Blacks

AUCKLAND (AFP) –

Ireland are under no illusions about the task ahead of them on Saturday but believe it is their best chance to record a historic first win over the All Blacks. “We have to make it now now rather than waiting for our kids and our kids’ kids to see it happens,” stressed Brian O’Driscoll (pictured in 2011), the 33-year-old Ireland captain who has faced the All Blacks 10 times for 10 defeats.

Ireland are under no illusions about the task ahead of them on Saturday but believe it is their best chance to record a historic first win over the All Blacks.

It is a challenge they’ve faced 24 times over the past 107 years without success and the quest has become even more special now the All Blacks are the reigning World Cup holders.

But with the All Blacks facing the drop in intensity that traditionally follows a World Cup victory, and blooding new players with a new coach, Ireland see their chance to strike on Saturday in the first match of a three-Test series.

“We have to make it now now rather than waiting for our kids and our kids’ kids to see it happens,” stressed Brian O’Driscoll, the 33-year-old Ireland captain who has faced the All Blacks 10 times for 10 defeats.

Auckland’s Eden Park may be considered the All Blacks fortress but Ireland, too, have good vibes about the ground after beating Australia there during the World Cup.

It is enough to make rugged hooker Rory Best feel they are closing the gap, although he adds they start against the All Blacks with a clean slate.

“We have a few positive memories from that (15-6 win over Australia) but we’re under no illusions we’ve a completely different task ahead of us now,” he said as Ireland wrapped up their pre-Test training on Friday.

New Zealand’s All Blacks, pictured as they perform the Haka during the 2011 Rugby World Cup at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland, last October. With the All Blacks facing the drop in intensity that traditionally follows a World Cup victory, and blooding new players with a new coach, Ireland see their chance to strike on Saturday in the first match of a three-Test series.

“It was no great surprise to us that we won that game. It’s being thrown around like it was a massive upset but we went into that game knowing we could win it and we did. But that’s along time ago now and this is a new challenge.”

Ireland go into this Test with two uncapped players — wing Simon Zebo and tighthead prop Declan Fitzpatrick.

Zebo partners Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney to form a talented back three at the end of a chain that features O’Driscoll and Keith Earls in the centres with Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray in the halves.

There is a raw look about the Irish pack where Best, loosehead prop Cian Healy and backrower Jamie Heaslip hold 137 of the combined 180 caps but Best said their self-belief is enormous.

The record books show the All Blacks remain the only top tier nation Ireland have not tasted success against, with their best effort a 10-10 draw in 1973 at home.

But apart from a 66-28 blowout two years ago, the results over recent decades have been close.

“We are closing the gap. There’s not a lot in it,” said Best who has faced the All Blacks four times.

“We have a lot of faith in the ability of this squad. We’ve done our homework on the All Blacks and we need to make sure we get our stuff right.

“This Ireland squad believes we can beat everyone so from that point of view we go out every time we play confident we can win.

“Obviously it’s going to be a tough ask, something no Irish team has ever done but the 15 players plus the subs we wouldn’t turn up if we didn’t believe we could win the match and make history.”