Rugby:Gert Smal is confident the Ireland pack have the power to match New Zealand in Saturday's Test in New Plymouth.
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen has been talking up his pack in the build up to the match at Yarrow Stadium, claiming the New Zealand eight can "physically dominate" their Irish opponents thanks largely to the presence of Crusaders players Ben and Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, captain Richie McCaw and Kieran Read, who performed strongly in the Super 14.
But Ireland's forwards coach is backing his players to take the game to the All Blacks, despite the absence of injured regulars, pack leader Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris and Rory Best.
"I think we have the power up front to match them," the South African said. "I think that's the challenge for each and every player to lift their game to see if they can match them. We are confident we can do that.
"When you're growing up playing rugby you want to play against the best and we get the opportunity to play against the best on Saturday. I think the players will enjoy the opportunity."
Smal was also confident rookie hooker Sean Cronin and the new-look locking pair of Mick O'Driscoll and Donncha O'Callaghan would deliver at line-out time.
It is an area New Zealand have struggled with, especially last year during the June series and Tri-Nations, but one Ireland have traditionally been strong in.
"We're confident we can get our ball and put enough pressure on their line-out," Smal said. "It's maybe one of our strengths. We've got things in place."
Cronin is known as a mobile player, who likes to get ball in hand, but Smal said the Connacht man, who will make his first start in an Irish shirt on Saturday, had been working hard on his core duties, including line-out throwing.
"He's still in the development stage but he's up there. He's doing really well at the moment and he's confident in his throwing," Smal added.
"There are a lot of things that can go wrong within a game. Sometimes you think it's the hooker that misses the throw but it's maybe some of the players don't get the call or they don't support properly and the ball goes over their heads.
"We've put a fair amount of time in the past two weeks into our line-outs. I'm confident he will take up the challenge."
Meanwhile, hooker Jerry Flannery (calf) and back Shane Horgan (stomach problem) remain in Ireland with a decision on whether they join the tour to be made shortly.
"They are having their medical work done on them back home, just getting a sense of where it all stands," defence coach Les Kiss said.
"We'll probably have some decision shortly but we would hope that they could join us over the next week or so."