IRELAND TOUR TO NZ:IRELAND ARRIVED in Wellington yesterday buoyed by the recent successes of Munster and Leinster but minus their captain and centre Brian O'Driscoll, scrumhalf Eoin Reddan and fullback Geordan Murphy.

O'Driscoll is still en route after leaving the Ireland camp last week just ahead of the Barbarians match because of the death of a close friend.

Reddan and Murphy played - for Wasps and Leicester, respectively - in the English Premiership final on Saturday, and stand-in coach Michael Bradley is hoping to have them in training by Thursday.

Despite there being less than a week until the Test against New Zealand, Bradley felt the players' late arrival would not be too disruptive for the squad.

"Brian was with us up until the Barbarians match, so he's obviously very familiar with what's happening," Bradley said.

"Geordan and Eoin were with us for the Six Nations so systems are in place. They are smart rugby players and they'll do their homework for a match on Saturday. It's not really an issue for us."

Next weekend's match will not be played under the experimental law variations (ELVs) which have been in use in the Southern Hemisphere's Super 14 competition.

But Bradley was unsure how that might help Ireland.

"We don't know. We have the advantage of not transferring to the ELVs, in terms of the coaching side of it and getting the players thinking in terms of the advantage and disadvantage of playing those rules," he said. "On the other side, having looked at Super 14 matches, the amount of time the ball is in possession and the speed at which the game is played is now considerably faster . . .

"So we are going to have a meeting of the two (styles), and it will be the first game played under those conditions."

Ireland will face a new-look All Blacks team at Westpac Stadium on Saturday after Graham Henry announced six new caps in his squad of 26 for the Tests against Ireland and England and on to the Tri-Nations competition.

Only 16 members of the squad that travelled to last year's World Cup in France have been retained, with most of the remaining 14 from that 30-man squad now playing in Europe. But Bradley felt the changing of the guard did not necessarily weaken them.

"I've never ever seen a bad All Blacks side. New Zealand have a tremendous tradition in rugby and consistently produce excellent players," he said.

"We're probably at a little bit of a disadvantage on the basis that you will have (new) players playing for the jersey, for New Zealand, on Saturday, and as always those players will lift those other players around them."

The man who will replace Bradley at the end of the tour, the outgoing Munster coach Declan Kidney, is meanwhile heading down under on a mission to gather first-hand knowledge of the experimental laws to be introduced worldwide next season. He will not have any input into the Ireland squad during his travels.

With new Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton, Kidney will meet coaches from Super 14 franchises in both New Zealand and Australia who have been playing under some of the ELVs this season.

McNaughton said: "Both Declan and I felt the tour was an opportunity to talk to coaches who had first-hand experience with regard to the ELVs ahead of our matches in November, which will be played under the new variations.

"It also, very importantly, allows us to watch the Ireland team play in both of their games from an external viewpoint, and to get a good look at the players in what will be two very testing games against quality teams."

Henry is anxious to rebuild a side hit by the exodus overseas.

Adam Thomson, Anthony Boric, Anthony Tuitavake, Rudi Wulf, Stephen Donald and Richard Kahui have been included in the squad for Tests.

"The new players impressed in the Super 14 and played their way into the squad," Henry said.

"A few of them were not in the frame at the beginning of the year but they proved they were some of the form players in New Zealand."

Two players in the squad are carrying injuries that will rule them out of selection for at least Saturday's game. The prop Tony Woodcock has a toe injury and halfback Brendon Leonard a bruised knee.

Henry said Ireland would present a major challenge.

"The Irish were strong when they came to New Zealand in 2006 and may be stronger this time," he said.

"They've already been in camp for a couple of weeks, except for their Munster players who were winning the European championship."

SQUAD: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Ali Williams (Tasman), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour).