Robbie Henshaw warns Ireland rugby team ahead of New Zealand clash: ‘We must match them physically’

It’s not just the dancing feet, the turn of pace or the sheer simplistic brilliance of their play that marks the All Blacks out as the most powerful rugby force on the planet.

Robbie Henshaw believes Ireland will also have to come to terms with New Zealand’s immense physicality if they are to succeed for the first time against the world champions today.

The 23-year-old Leinster centre makes his 23rd Test start for Ireland at Soldier Field with a first meeting against the All Blacks as Steve Hansen’s side go in search of their 19th consecutive international victory.

Yet having watched them from afar for so long, Henshaw will hardly be going into the unknown and he knows only too well the Irish must be prepared to meet their high-octane, power-packed opposition head on for 80-plus minutes.

“It’s going to be a tough game, we know what they’re going to throw at us. We’ve just got to be physically prepared for a high, physical challenge against a high-skill level team coming up against us.

“We need to be squeaky clean in terms of our discipline and need to execute as best as we can with our strike plays.

“We try to mimic (the tempo) in training, by training at as high intensity as we can.

“We’re going to experience it on Saturday and we have to make sure we get that hit out at training during the week.

“I know myself it’s going to be very tough at times, I’m going to be under the pump at certain stages but we’re just going to have to go through it phase by phase, stay together as a side and bring our physicality, our set-piece detail. If we do those things we’ll be in with a massive shout.”

So much has been written and said about how the All Blacks perform to such a high level on such a consistent basis and Henshaw is happy to throw in his assessment.

“When you look at the All Blacks it’s the way they execute the basics under pressure. It’s just unbelievable. From number one to 15, the way they execute with quick hands, a two-on-one, a three-on-two, a wide pass from the front-row to the back-field lads (is incredible).

“That’s where a lot of people recognise (their greatness), that’s their bread and butter, just executing catch-passes, they’re running square and drawing defenders. In terms of their physicality, around ruck time their back row, their second row - their full pack around ruck time - is where we’re going to be up against it on Saturday.

“We need to be deadly accurate in terms of when we take the ball into contact, our clean out has to be the best it has been.”

It is suggested to Henshaw some of the UFC skills of Irish cage-fighting superstar Conor McGregor might come in handy today.

“He’d be a bit small, but yeah some of his words of wisdom would be taken on board! I haven’t met him, but I’d like to meet him. I follow him and watch his fights, his hard work is paying off and it’s great to see him representing Ireland abroad. I think he’d be an inspiration for a lot of the guys on the team...

“Physicality is one of the main traits in rugby. You need it if you’re going to play rugby and I think we showed that on our summer tour against one of the most physical teams you’d come up against, in terms of South Africa.

“They are potentially the biggest team in world rugby at the moment, so yeah, the physicality is there, there’s no doubt about it. We’re going to see a lot of it on the weekend and we have to have it from minute one to 80 and when we get into their 22 it needs to be upped, and when they get into our 22 as well, we need to crank it up as well.”

Henshaw believes Ireland must leave nothing out there if they are to get the job done and claim that first victory over New Zealand in 111 years of trying.

“I think we just need to recognise that we’re going out to play 15 other guys and if we have our work done on our detail, if we have our detail right then we’ll definitely cause some pressure and will definitely get some rewards in terms of putting up some scores and giving them a good test.

“We’re going out here with nothing to lose, we have to go and throw a shot and we need to really have a go. And let’s give it the best lash we can and see what happens.”