Paul McNaughton believes Ireland's historical lack of success against New Zealand will have little bearing on the outcome of Saturday's match and is adamant that 103 years of hurt can be laid to rest at Croke Park this weekend.

Ireland have lost 20 of their 21 meetings with the All Blacks, the other match finishing in a draw, but McNaughton feels the current crop of players are capable of bucking that trend.

The Irish team manager has been greatly encouraged by recent performances against the All Blacks, not least in New Zealand itself, and insists there is no psychological edge for the visitors going into the contest.

"We do have a poor record against New Zealand," McNaughton told reporters at today's press conference in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel. "We've never beaten them but a lot of the games have been very close.

"The players have got a lot more confident in themselves over the last three or four years, in terms of their success in European Cups and their success in Magners League, so I don't believe there is any psychological problem here.

"They are disappointed they haven't taken any of their opportunities (against the All Blacks), and they certainly have had those over the past few years. The games have been close over there and the guys feel that they could have won two out of four of those games."