Ireland captain Caelan Doris has rejected the suggestion that there is ‘bad blood’ between his side and New Zealand, ahead of tomorrow night’s eagerly-anticipated sold-out clash at the Aviva Stadium.
After decades of Irish hurt, the two nations have forged a fierce rivalry since Ireland finally got one over on the All Blacks on that famous day in Chicago in 2016.
Having poked the bear at Soldier Field, Ireland then lost back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals to the Kiwis in Japan and France, while in between those bitterly disappointing defeats, Andy Farrell’s men claimed a famous series victory in New Zealand in 2022.
With the fallout from last year’s most recent meeting in Paris, and the war of words between Johnny Sexton and New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane, who starts tomorrow, still very much fresh in the mind, another ferocious contest is expected in Dublin.
But Doris dismissed any talk of there being bad blood between the two teams.
“I don’t think so,” the Ireland number eight said.
“You obviously hear about some of the stuff that came out after the game but it hasn’t been a big thing for us at all this week. We’re very aware of their threats and how good a team they are and how good individuals they have, that’s been the focus point more than anything else.
“I think every time we play them, there is a good rivalry, mutual respect, there are two good top sides going against each other and tomorrow night will be no different. I think from last Monday when we first came together, it was about our progression, our evolution, getting better, and tomorrow night’s a big test in doing that.”
As Ireland bid to beat the All Blacks for just the sixth time in the country’s history, Doris acknowledged that while his side still respect the Kiwis, the fear factor no longer exists.
“When you break new ground in terms of getting a win against them you know you can do it and there is more belief off the back of that.
“It’s not this thing that you’ve never gotten near or beaten before. Of course there is still massive respect because you have to respect them given how good they are but there’s also more belief, definitely.”
Doris (26) is hoping for a special atmosphere at the Aviva, with the late Friday night kick-off set to add to the sense of occasion.
“It’s special, especially against New Zealand, it goes up another level, I think. Hearing the Fields of Athenry at the start of the game, it’s palpable, you can definitely feel the extra energy it gives you and the support behind us.”
The box-office back-row battle will go a long way to deciding the outcome tomorrow, with Doris mindful of the quality that he, Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier will come up against.
“Yeah, looking at (Wallace) Sititi and obviously (Sam) Cane was world-class against us in the quarterfinal, and (Ardie) Savea as well, (Samipeni) Finau off the bench too,” the Ballina man added.
“Sititi in particular is obviously a young player who has been class in the Rugby Championship and last week again against England, you love testing yourself against other world-class opposition and against very good back-rows as well and looking forward to going up against them, the three of us against the three of them will be a good challenge.”