Ireland win dispelled New Zealand 'mystique' - Devin Toner
- Published
Ireland second row Devin Toner says the side dispelled New Zealand's "mystique" by beating them for the first time in Chicago, USA on 5 November.
Ireland won 40-29 at Soldier Field after 111 years of trying, with the rematch in Dublin on Saturday.
"It showed that New Zealand can have off days too - everyone's human," said Leinster's Toner, 30.
"There were a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes from them in Chicago and we know it won't be the same this week."
Ireland's victory ended New Zealand's record 18-match winning streak - and Toner hopes Joe Schmidt's men can seize on any lingering doubts in Steve Hansen's side at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
"Everyone's beatable, it is only 15 men against 15 men. Hopefully it removes the mystique a little," he said.
"How we did so well in the last game was pressure: we built it through getting pressure off their line-out, getting up off their line, making them knock the ball on and putting that little bit of doubt in their head.
"That seed is sown now. They know we're a good team and we can get in their face.
"If they start sticking passes and getting the offloads they're a different machine - but hopefully we're in the back of their heads now.
"I don't think it would tarnish Chicago if we didn't get the right result; I think it would tarnish it if we didn't get the right performance."
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