Aaron Smith plays down impact of last year's series defeat to Ireland

Any suggestion that the All Blacks might be less burdened by pressure approaching this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final lasted no more than a handful of minutes on Tuesday

OFF FEET: Aaron Smith during a New Zealand rugby squad training session at INSEP in Paris, France. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Any suggestion that the All Blacks might be less burdened by pressure approaching this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final against Ireland lasted no more than a handful of minutes on Tuesday at the Centre Sportif Jean Letessier, a building nestled into one corner of the French Olympic team’s base in the Bois de Vincennes.

Ian Foster’s team is not the one ranked number highest in the world. They are not the side that has already accounted for the world champion Springboks, or swept aside the Scots in Pool B. The Kiwis are not the collective that approaches Saturday night 80 minutes removed from a world record-equalling 18th win on the trot.