New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has stated that his players hold a "healthy amount of respect" for Ireland, acknowledging that Andy Farrell's side "genuinely believe they can beat us" ahead of their highly anticipated Nations Championship encounter this Saturday. The two unbeaten teams are set to clash at Eden Park in Auckland, with kick-off scheduled for 08:10 BST.
Both nations arrive at the fixture with perfect records in the inaugural Nations Championship. Ireland have secured two bonus-point victories, while the formidable All Blacks have also emerged victorious from their matches against Italy and France. The upcoming game presents a significant challenge for Ireland, who have historically never won at Eden Park. They will be looking to make history by ending New Zealand's remarkable 52-game unbeaten streak at the iconic venue, a run that stretches back to 1994.
Rennie praised Ireland's tactical prowess and skill, telling the media, "They're very well coached and so they'll be well prepared. They're very skilful, their forwards have got a really good short passing game. They'll ask lots of questions of us there and at set-piece." He also highlighted Ireland's defensive capabilities, noting their "ability to fill the field" and the need for patience to break them down.
Despite Eden Park's reputation as a 'fortress' for the All Blacks, Rennie cautioned against complacency. "It's been a fortress, but what's happened in the past counts for little. It's about us making sure we get our prep right and mindset right," he explained, recalling Ireland's series victory during their last tour of New Zealand. A key focus for the All Blacks will be neutralising New Zealand-born scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, who has been instrumental in Ireland's recent successes and Leinster's dominance.
Gibson-Park, a Leinster half-back, scored in Ireland's narrow 33-31 win over Australia but was rested for the subsequent match against Japan. Rennie emphasised the importance of disrupting his influence, stating, "Leinster have had a massive influence on Irish rugby for a lot of years. I like their combinations. They're really strong. Jamison's a big part of their success. We need to make life difficult for him so he can't play on the front foot and apply pressure that way."