Andy Farrell is not harking back to last year’s World Cup Quarter-Final defeat to New Zealand to amp up his players ahead of Friday’s rematch at the Aviva Stadium.
The Ireland coach has named an experienced team for the first meeting between the teams since that epic encounter in Paris last October.
And, while the fallout from that match and the rift between Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane has played a big part in the build up to the game outside of the camp, within the four walls of Ireland’s hotel it hasn’t been referenced.
“I don’t see the relevance of the last game at all,” Farrell said.
“We didn’t even get a chance to review our last game in South Africa because we were on our holidays. We had to get a couple of flights home and so our main thing was about our last game, what’s the areas in which we can improve and that, to be honest, is the main thing that excites us about where our next steps are.
“We got asked straight after the World Cup about the hangover and that subject is in the past now with the Marseille game etc., so we’ve moved on since the Quarter-Final, that’s for sure.”
Farrell is fully aware of the growing rivalry between these teams, one that’s built ever since he came on board with Ireland in 2016 and was part of the set-up when Joe Schmidt’s side delivered a first win over the All Blacks in Chicago that same year.
“I think it’s a subconscious thing, really, just because of the nature of the battles that we’ve had and the drama that has unfolded within those games. We all get excited, we’re all rugby fans as well,” he said.
“So Friday night game, first game of the international season at the Aviva, if you can’t get excited about that, well, you’re in the wrong place.
“What I would say, as we all know, is that you get a limited amount of time to prepare before the start of any campaign internationally, so the focus has certainly been on getting up to speed and seeing if we can improve our own game, first of all.”
Tadhg Furlong misses out on the game with a hamstring injury but Farrell said the issue shouldn’t keep him out for long.
“He had a bit of a hamstring strain, a slight hamstring strain, coming into camp. Obviously he didn’t play in the last Leinster game before coming into camp,” he said.
“We thought it would be something that would progress, he was rehabbing like a few of the other lads but unfortunately it’s just come (too soon) and then rather than push too hard and he’ll be out for the series, we’ll take our time and hopefully he’ll be back sooner rather than later.
“We’ll see how he progresses. He’s had a good week in terms of next steps etc., obviously there’s a process that he has to go through.”
Caelan Doris continues as captain after leading the team to victory over South Africa in Durban and Farrell says he’s stepping up to the plate.
“He’s been excellent. He’s been himself, which is the most important part, he’s thriving in the role now. You can see that, he’s certainly walking tall,” he said of the skipper.
“He’s certainly popular among the group because there’s no ego there whatsoever.
“He is unbelievably diligent in getting his own stuff right. He’s so professional. He’s come on leaps and bounds in the last four years in regards to that, he’s worked it out.
“He’s very comfortable in his own skin. Obviously being a leader now on a good few occasions and learning from the leaders that he’s had the pleasure to sit alongside in his international career.
“He’s like a sponge. He’s taken it all in and he’s calm. He’s not panicking. He’s taken it all in his stride and that puts everyone else at ease. He’s comfortable allowing others to lead at the same time.
“On top of that, he’s not in bad form is he?”