There may not be any match points on offer at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening but for Ireland captain Caelan Doris, the carrot of being part of a winning team against the mighty All Blacks is enough motivation in itself.
As Ireland aim to beat New Zealand for just the sixth time in the country’s history, there is plenty at stake in this eagerly-anticipated sold-out clash in Dublin.
For Doris, it’s a chance to join an illustrious club that includes Rory Best and Johnny Sexton as the only male captains to lead Ireland to victory over the Kiwis, in what is just the Mayo No 8’s third game as Irish skipper.
“For me and for the team in general, some of our best memories are coming from playing against these guys — whether it be over in New Zealand in 2022, the game here (2021) was probably one of my favourite games I’ve played ever,” Doris (26) said.
“The feeling after, doing the lap with the crowd still there cheering, the atmosphere in general. The nature of the game, the extra level, you can feel the physicality going up a notch in these games. There’s so much to look forward to.”
This latest edition of an enthralling rivalry is set to be another ferocious contest, but Doris dismissed the suggestion that there is any ‘bad blood’ in light of last year’s World Cup quarter-final, during which Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane, who starts in the centre tonight, ignited a war of words that has continued until very recently.
“I don’t think so,” Doris added.
“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 (Friday night) will be no different.”
Read more
As one of Ireland’s primary breakdown specialists, there is a big onus on Doris stopping the All Blacks at source, and denying them the opportunity to strike in broken field play.
This New Zealand team is not the vintage crop of old, yet, like their predecessors, they pose a serious threat on turnover ball.
With Will Jordan, Mark Tele’a and Caleb Clarke up there as one of the most lethal back-threes in world rugby, not to mention an out-half in Damian McKenzie, who is at his brilliant best in unstructured play, Ireland must be on their guard, as Doris warned.
“It’s tricky because they can massively create something from nothing in terms of transitions or if there’s scraps, they’ve guys like (Mark) Tele’a, (Wallace) Sititi, (Ardie) Savea — so many throughout their team who can just turn it on and create a bit of magic for them,” the Ireland captain said.
“Obviously our connections in defence, being ahead of the game, trying to win scraps, all those little bits are important in trying to negate that threat, but it’s definitely a big one.
“I still want to create chaos when I can at a breakdown. I need to make smart decisions there obviously.”
Doris is part of a strong Irish pack, most of whom played a key role in beating the Springboks in Durban last summer.
And the Mayo native believes he and his fellow forwards will give as good as they get against the All Blacks in terms of the physicality stakes.
“I think if you look at the pack, obviously (Tadhg) Bernie at six and the two lads in the second-row (Joe McCarthy and James Ryan), it’s a pretty big and physical pack, and pretty fit as well,” Doris added.