Dave Rennie: All Blacks 'genuinely respect' Ireland ability

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Dave Rennie says the All Blacks “genuinely respect” Ireland, but he’s not exactly sweating about Eden Park’s 51-Test unbeaten run going on the line either. 

Well, not publicly anyway.

While a bullish Andy Farrell reiterated his comments earlier this week that they were going after the All Blacks and hoping to end the three-time world champion’s 32-year unbeaten streak at their “Mecca”, Rennie did his best to talk down the looming nervy Nations Championship fixture.

“Yeah, I wouldn't say pressure,” he said.

“Well aware of the threats and they're an excellent side who will have genuine confidence going into the game.

“Clearly we've talked about the record at Eden Park and the record is longer than most of the age of the players on our team.

“So we're well aware of that, we're really excited to play there. It's against a really high-quality opposition and we're building. We know we need to be better than we were last week but we've prepared well and looking forward to it.” 

After Farrell earlier brought back his best cattle for their season finale, Rennie waited as late as he could on Thursday afternoon to confirm his side.

Just like Ireland’s team, there weren’t too many surprises in Rennie’s side either.

Rennie did return fire at blindside flanker, naming regular lock Tupou Vaa’i in the No.6 jersey.

By shifting the immensely talented forward to the back-row, he named a new-look second-row featuring Josh Lord and veteran Patrick Tuipulotu.

Rennie said the decision to include another tall forward in his side was designed to specifically counter the Irish threat.

“It gives us a bigger lineout, a bigger pack,” he said. “I feel he's [Vaa’i] got the skill set, he suits what we want and I'm keen to give him another crack there.

“Ireland are very good, they're very disciplined and they'll put you in the corner and they'll hurt you down there, so we've picked a pack that we think can compete and hopefully give us an edge.” 

The other two changes in the side saw Quinn Tupaea return to the midfield to partner Jordie Barrett while Josh Moorby, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Hurricanes, was selected on the left-wing in the absence of Leroy Carter.

Moorby, who has been picked ahead of Caleb Clarke, might not be the quickest nor biggest, but he’s exceptional in the air, strong defensively and a silky runner in the mould of Ben Smith.

Rennie has also opted for the same spine for the third straight week, with Hurricanes duo Cam Roigard and Ruben Love paired in the halves while livewire talent Damian McKenzie is at fullback.

Will Jordan, the incredibly gifted back-three man, remains on the right-wing, having become the All Blacks’ greatest tryscorer (51) after last week’s second straight double.

After blowing away Italy in the second half to run out 47-17 winners, Rennie named rising back-row duo Anton Segner and Peter Lakai on the bench in a clear indication that the All Blacks will try and lift the tempo in the second half.

Rennie added that the All Blacks needed to go through their opponents before looking to stretch Ireland.

“We know where they're coming,” said Rennie, who was confirmed as Scott Robertson’s replacement in March.

“They've got a really good kicking game and they'll apply pressure through that. There's a lot of detail within their attack and they've got a real good short passing game and they're prepared to go multi-phase.

“Our job's to get them out of their comfort zone, ensure through how we defend that they're below their best and try and profit off that and we're going to have to bar up big time at set-piece, and we're pretty confident with the group we've got that we can apply pressure there.

“I mean it's a case of us being really clinical. Our mindset's been excellent. We've got to be prepared to play through them and squeeze them up a bit and pick them off as opposed to try and go wide at every opportunity so they're a really good side and we're aware of that.

“We genuinely respect their ability and that excites me because I know the boys are going to bar up.”

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax; Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tupou Vaa'i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt).

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.