All Blacks match 'not a revenge game' for Ireland

Hugo Keenan and Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup by New Zealand last year

Full-back Hugo Keenan says Ireland are not looking at Friday's Test with New Zealand in Dublin as a "revenge game".

Ireland's opening autumn international is the first time the sides have met since the All Blacks knocked coach Andy Farrell's side out of the World Cup in 2023.

Keenan admits he is "still hurting" from that quarter-final exit, but enough time has passed for a fresh outlook.

"A lot of things have changed since then, through playing squads and coaching staff even," said Keenan, 28.

"It's a not a new cycle, but I don't think we're looking at it as a revenge game."

The game against the All Blacks opens Ireland's autumn series before fixtures with Argentina, Fiji and Australia in Dublin.

Leinster's Keenan concedes their World Cup exit in Paris was a "hugely disappointing loss" but reiterated that facing New Zealand is enough to focus the mind.

"It's a game against one of the best nations in the world, historically the best team in the world," he said.

"We have to view it as a fresh series, back at home and the excitement of playing four brilliant sides."

Keenan said he "admired" the All Blacks while growing up and it is a "huge honour and privilege" to play against them.

"I've huge respect for them and that's come into my playing career now," he added.

"We've had some brilliant games against them, some have gone our way and some have gone theirs. It's been a real battle."

Former Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton has returned to the Ireland camp as a consultancy coach and Keenan says it is "incredible having him back".

"He's got an incredible rugby brain and his knowledge of the game is second to none," added Keenan, who also played with Sexton at Leinster.

"He was nearly like a coach when he was playing and I have learnt so much off him over the last number of years. I owe him a lot of credit for progressing my game.

"I'm sure a lot of the lads will be tapping him on the shoulder for bits of advice. It's exciting to have him back in."

Back playing 15s 'feels natural'

Keenan returned to sevens to represent Ireland at the Paris Olympics

Keenan has returned to Farrell's squad after a brief stint with Ireland's sevens squad at the Paris Olympics in July.

The full-back started his international career in the sevens game and made his 15s debut for Ireland in 2020.

Keenan admits it was "probably an easier transition" back to the 15s game than it was adjusting for his time back in sevens.

"I've obviously been playing the 15s game the last five or so years. I'd been out of the Sevens game for a longer period, so I had to refresh a lot on the systems and style of play," he said.

"It feels natural to be back playing 15s. I'm enjoying it with Leinster and now I'm excited for the next couple of weeks."

Keenan believes that playing sevens rugby earlier in his career helped his progression as a player and he hopes he has continued to grow throughout his Olympic experience.

"Hopefully I've picked up things, both in attack and defence, from the sevens game and players," he said.

"It did a huge amount for me in my development in my younger years in the academy.

"I put a lot of my progress down to the sevens game and that was one of the reasons I wanted to go back and challenge myself again."