Rugby: Ireland meet All Blacks today

Ireland host the might of the New Zealand All Blacks today at Lansdowne

Road as the Kiwis begin their world tour against Warren Gatland's side.

Ireland are on the crest of a wave at the moment after defeating England

in the Six Nations and the provincial sides performing well in Europe.

The Irish under Gatland, who is from New Zealand, have reached their highest

ever world ranking and they will be hoping to capitalise on this to topple

an under strength Kiwi side.

New coach, John Mitchell, has picked an experimental touring party after

leaving behind several star players in preference for younger, untested

players.

The Kiwis will still feature Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga, Andrew Mehrtens and Anton Oliver however and have never been beaten by the Irish before.

The past 14 games between the sides have produced thirteen wins for New Zealand and one draw so Ireland have it all to do if they are to reverse history today.

Warren Gatland has kept faith with the same team that defeated England despite

some concerns over the fitness of David Humphreys and David Wallace as well

as some good performances from fringe players such as Jeremy Staunton and

Geordan Murphy against Samoa last weekend.

Ireland scrumhalf, Peter Stringer, faces a last minute fitness test after he suffered a blow to his ankle during training. Stringer is rated at 50-50 and Guy Easterby is on stand-by to replace him if he cannot prove his fitness.

The Irish team in full is: Dempsey, Horgan, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie, Humphreys, Stringer, Clohessy, Wood, Hayes, Galwey, O'Kelly, Miller, Wallace and Foley.

The New Zealand starting line-up is: MacDonald, Howlett, Umaga, Mauger,

Lomu, Mehrtens, Kelleher, Feek, Oliver, Sommerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne,

McCaw and Robertson.

Today's match kicks-off at 2pm.