RUGBY NEWS:WEARY THEY may be at the end of an arduous season that kicked off fully 10 months ago, but Ireland are trying to convince themselves that opportunity knocks in the Westpac Stadium this Saturday, and the respective team announcements merely underline the point.
One draw from 20 attempts dating over 103 years is the summit of Ireland's achievements against New Zealand, and while these present All Blacks are hardly there for the taking, there is a certain vulnerability about them.
Admittedly they are on a mission of redemption after an eight-month hiatus since the heartbreak of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. But, tellingly, only six of that starting XV will line up for the kick-off on Saturday (7.35pm local time, 8.35am Irish).
Of those - Ali Williams, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina - So'oialo and Muliaina switch to blindside and revert to fullback. So'oialo's selection at number six brings to mind similar back-row experimentation when the All Blacks played Marty Holah there against Ireland in Hamilton two years ago.
Missing the injured Tony Woodcock and the rested Greg Somerville in the front row, they have established provincial combinations in the second row, at halfback and in midfield. There's a new cap on the wing in the Blues' Anthony Tuitavake and three more on a relatively callow bench, lock Anthony Boric, flanker Adam Thomson and outhalf Stephen Donald.
By contrast, Ireland make only three changes from the team that lost to England in March, Jerry Flannery's recall at the expense of Rory Best meaning Jamie Heaslip gets an idea of what it's like to be the Munster number eight. Luke Fitzgerald is alongside Brian O'Driscoll in place of the absent Andrew Trimble, meaning Geordan Murphy misses out in the ensuing reshuffle as Rob Kearney switches to fullback.
Coach Michael Bradley admitted he still was not sure as to Fitzgerald's best position but said, "Any experience he gets at international level I'm quite sure will help develop him into a regular fixture on the Irish side."
He also highlighted the 20-year-old's attention to detail, "natural feel for the game; a low centre of gravity and he's exceptionally fast". All in all, Bradley ventured, "It's a very strong team, and a very exciting team."
Pointing to the recent Heineken Cup/Magners League/English Premiership success of all but one of the starting 15, Bradley added, "If we do our business correctly and accurately, discipline in defence, there's no reason why we can't win the match and then roll on to the Australian game and use the same process for that."
That said, he cited the All Blacks' recent record of 42 wins from their last 48 matches and their status as "the spiritual home of international rugby" in highlighting how difficult it will be.
O'Driscoll's presence was a significant boost, although he revealed speculation that he might miss the tour following the death of his close friend Barry Twomey had been overstated.
"I didn't come that close at all - all I really want to say about last week was it was a brutal week in my life and in the lives of a lot of my friends. It came as a shock. Rugby was secondary for that period of time but my friend's dad said that he would have expected me to go on tour. That was all the convincing I needed."
Although he maintained he and Fitzgerald would swap positions to keep the All Blacks guessing, the likelihood is that the younger man will play at outside centre.
The idea of Fitzgerald reminding O'Driscoll of himself prompted a smile.
"Maybe a little bit. I probably didn't have as much ability, but maybe not as much confidence. I suppose not ignorant to the pressures that are on you, but as a youngster you have a little bit of naivety and I think that can really work to your advantage and I think it certainly did for me when I was younger."
Acknowledging that the All Blacks were going through a transitional period, O'Driscoll nevertheless believes no matter what team they put on the pitch they are "such a lethal combination every single time they go and play. You rarely see a weak All Black team."
Maintaining the pressure is all on the All Blacks, he said: "You have to look at this as a great opportunity to try and put some of the wrongs of the Six Nations and at the start of the season the World Cup right and finish the season on a high. Then you regroup after you have your holidays and you think about next season. We'll take it that way. It's a little bit of freebie if you like."
Interestingly, mindful that a few tickets for the Westpac Stadium had still to be sold, Graham Henry pleaded for a full house for what he forecast would be "a very demanding and a very special Test match".
Talking about Ireland's experience and strengths, he added, "I think they'll have a lot of confidence coming off Munster's Heineken Cup success, and they know that we are rebuilding."
The All Blacks were, he said, "a little snowed under" in trying to organise a relatively swift transition into Test rugby, all the more given they are reverting from some of the experimental laws in use in the Super 14.
Henry also expressed delight that Dan Carter had committed himself to remaining within the New Zealand fold up to and including the 2011 World Cup on home soil, albeit with a probable and lucrative six-month sabbatical in France (most probably with newly promoted Toulon) liable to earn him at least €500,000.
Keane teams up with All Blacks
IT SEEMS Roy Keane has a new admirer. The Sunderland manager is spending the week with the All Blacks as they prepare for Saturday's Test.
And he appears to have found a friend in the All Blacks' head coach, Graham Henry.
"We have probably got similar views (on referees)," Henry quipped.
Keane arranged to spend time with the All Blacks as part of his Uefa Pro Licence coaching course.
"He has been great, great to talk to, very bubbly," said Henry. "Richie (McCaw, the New Zealand captain) had lunch with him today, I don't think they chatted about leadership at all, but they chatted about their experiences.
"Roy has got a few of those which are good to listen to and it's good to have a guy of his esteem in the group that he can share some experiences with. Everybody knows him and respects him for what he has done in sport and it's great that he chose, along with Ricki Herbert (New Zealand soccer coach), to be here with the All Blacks as part of their requirements for their final coaching certificate in football."
