Irish Rugby

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Ireland prop Finlay Bealham says there can be "no sulking" from the side in the aftermath of their 23-13 defeat to New Zealand on Friday.

The All Blacks ended Ireland's unbeaten home run after 19 games in a game where Will Jordan scored the only try in the second half.

Ireland have further games this November against Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

"Everyone is obviously bitterly disappointed," said the Connacht man.

"Look, there's still three games to go in this series, and we'll dust ourselves off.

"We're not feeling sorry for ourselves, we'll analyse it properly and we've another big Test next week. Back on the horse."

Head coach Andy Farrell said the Ireland players were "sombre" in the immediate aftermath of the defeat, but with Argentina in Dublin next weekend, Bealham said the mindset quickly shifted to improving upon what was an error strewn performance.

"It was a disappointing dressing room," he added.

"It's always tough to lose at home. We got into a huddle and just said 'no sulking'.

"We'll get on with it and learn from the mistakes we made. We have an incredibly tough test match next Friday and we'll look to fix the stuff we can be better at."

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Ireland flanker Tadhg Beirne admits that he still thinks of his side's World Cup quarter-final loss to the All Blacks last year "quite regularly".

On Friday night at the Aviva Stadium, the sides will meet for the first time since that Paris knock-out game.

And, while the last ten games between the pair have been evenly split with five wins each, New Zealand won not just the 2023 World Cup quarter-final, but also at the same stage in Japan four years prior.

"I still have nightmares about that game," said Beirne, who will wear the Irish number six jersey in Dublin.

"Particularly if you are having a sleepless night, it can keep you up at night sometimes. I think that's sport and they are the things you kind of have to live with.

"You have lost, live with disappointment for that. We lost that day and we can't change it, but sometimes those moments just pop into your head and you can't help it - what could have been."

Ireland had their chances to win at the Stade de France 13 months ago, with hooker Ronan Kelleher notably halted over the line late on by a superb defensive intervention from centre Jordie Barrett.

"Look it is a game of inches at the end of the day and I think there is a few moments in that game where we have looked back and said 'we could have done this' and 'we could have done that' and I think it is just being better in the moment, being able to see things in the moment and take those opportunities," added Beirne.

"If there is one thing we can be better at, it is just continue to try and see opportunities and take them."

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All Black Will Jordan is backing team-mate Damian McKenzie to deliver against Ireland in the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

The 29-year-old will start in the visitor's ten jersey in Dublin after Beauden Barrett picked up an injury in their win over England last week.

"It's exciting. Damian is someone who loves to play the game with an attacking mindset and flair," said Jordan.

"I've had a couple of games with him at ten and me out the back and I've enjoyed the combination we've had.

"We get on well together off the park, good friends. It's always fun running out with someone that you're close with.

"I know he'll be excited to take this opportunity. He's had some great moments for us in the black jersey this year and I'm sure he'll go out and nail it on Friday night."

While New Zealand got the better of things when these sides last met, coming out on top 28-24 at the quarter-final stage of the 2023 World Cup, Jordan does not think past meetings have much meaning come Friday, especially with the All Blacks under a different head coach in Scott Robertson.

"Inside you've got good memories of what happened last year but, in terms of as a team, it's not something we've touched on a lot.

"We've obviously got a pretty new coaching staff, playing the game a bit differently to how we were then.

"In terms of how we've previewed it, it's been a little bit different and there's been a decent change to the team that we had 12 months ago, so it's a bit of a clean slate in that regard."

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Friday night's showdown with New Zealand will be a typically intense affair.

The All Blacks are coming off a 24-22 win over England while it is the autumn series opener for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

"Playing against the All Blacks has always brought that edge for any type of game," said Farrell.

"This is a top, top level Test match that everyone wants to be involved in. We want to be up there competing with the best."

The Dublin encounter will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2023 World Cup.

New Zealand clinched a dramatic 28-24 victory in a Stade de France quarter-final as they ended Ireland's hopes for the second tournament in a row.

Farrell was unequivocal when asked if revenge would be motivating factor for his team.

"No, that's the truth - do you need that when you're playing one of the best sides in the world? Everyone knows that's the truth.

"There has been a lot of rugby played and a lot of water gone under the bridge [since that game] so it doesn't even play a part in it."

Ireland top the world rankings as they target a 20th straight win at their Aviva Stadium home in Dublin.

"Irish rugby is in a good place and I think everyone knows New Zealand are always the team to beat.

"I expect it to be as good as ever, if not better."

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Garry Ringrose says Ireland are determined to maintain their impressive home form as they target a 20th straight Aviva Stadium win against the All Blacks on Friday night.

Andy Farrell's side have made the Dublin venue one of the most daunting arenas for visiting teams in recent years, their last home defeat coming against France in the 2021 Six Nations.

In addition to New Zealand, Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and Australia during the November internationals.

"It's becoming more special with every experience we have there," said Ringrose.

"Some of the results, when our backs are against the wall, even thinking back to Australia [in 2016], it was the last Test of that November series.

"It was Besty [Rory Best]'s 100th cap and there were a few injuries but we came out the other end and win a game like that.

"It makes us all appreciate what's coming this weekend. Every result we've had there adds to the legacy and we certainly want to keep that going."

Ringrose was an unused replacement during Ireland's historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016 but has faced them on seven occasions since.

The 29-year-old is expected to start on Friday, where he may come up against the formidable New Zealand centre partnership of Rieko Ioane and Leinster-bound Jordie Barrett.

"I was paying attention to them during the Rugby Championship. They're pretty settled and cohesive together as a partnership," said Ringrose.

"I was watching them at the weekend against a tough England side that were throwing everything at them. Like they always do, they seemed to be taking everything in their stride so we'll have our work cut out for us on that front."

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New Zealand wing Caleb Clarke says he is excited to face Ireland for the first time as he revealed his family roots in Northern Ireland before Friday's Test match in Dublin.

Clarke, 25, has starred for the All Blacks this year, scoring six tries in their Rugby Championship campaign, and is expected to play on the left wing at Aviva Stadium after starting last weekend's win over England.

Speaking after New Zealand's training session in Dublin on Monday, Clarke said his father, ex-All Blacks wing Eroni Clarke, and grandfather mentioned his Irish roots before he left for the team's northern tour.

"That’s where the Clarkes came from before coming to Samoa," said Clarke.

"They came in the early '20s or '40s to Samoa and started potato farming and from there the Clarkes sort of grew."

Asked to expand, he added: "Northern Ireland, up north, before they came to Samoa as potato farmers, that's what I heard.

"It's probably why I like Guinness. I'm not a drinker but when I tried it I was like 'wow, that is so nice!'"

Clarke is expected to be a key outlet for the All Blacks on Friday but knows he will have his hands full against Ireland's wings, too.

"I know how much of a strength they are," he said. "So far it’s been James Lowe and Mack Hansen and they’ve been two strong wingers.

"I remember I used to watch Lowey back in the day when he was playing for the Chiefs.

"I call him by his nickname but I don't know him that well but still, he's pretty cool and it's really exciting."

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New Zealand assistant coach Jason Holland says Ireland have transitioned "really well" without Johnny Sexton at fly-half as the sides prepare to renew their rivalry.

The most recent edition of the Ireland-All Blacks rivalry was Sexton's last match before retirement, with New Zealand winning last year's riveting World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

Following Sexton's exit, Jack Crowley has been given a run at fly-half while Ciaran Frawley starred in Ireland's summer Test series against the Springboks in South Africa.

"They have a couple of young 10s who are really stepping up," former Munster centre Holland said ahead of Friday's match at Aviva Stadium (20:10 GMT).

"They've obviously been in the environment for a long time, in and out, but slotting into the way Ireland play and they understand what winning footy is when Ireland play winning footy.

"They've transitioned really well with some pretty senior guys around the 10 spot, with their 12s and 13s, and Jamo [Jamison Gibson-Park] at nine has been around a while.

"Their transition has been pretty smooth from what we can see."

When asked what he feels is Ireland's greatest strength, Holland said: "I've enjoyed the way they are attacking. Some of the lines they run, some of their options at the line, multiple options, the way they play, I really enjoy that.

"And I suppose like any good Irish side they’re built on their work rate and their ability to go to war for each other, that hasn’t changed over the years, has it?

Holland spent 13 years at Munster - nine as a player and four as assistant coach - but he ruled out the possibility of him taking the vacant head coach role following Graham Rowntree's departure.

"I’ve got a pretty awesome job at the moment, which I’m loving, so not at this stage," he said.

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Lock Joe McCarthy says Ireland will not be making "any excuses" for rustiness against the All Blacks on Friday night.

Andy Farrell's side have not taken the field since their drawn series with South Africa in July.

Their opponents this weekend, however, have played nine Tests in that time, most recently a dramatic win over England on Saturday.

"It's an interesting one whether it's better to be battle-hardened going into a game or be fresh," said Leinster second-row McCarthy.

"A lot of our guys have played a lot of games in the URC [United Rugby Championship], which is quite competitive.

"We pride ourselves as a group on being able to come together as fast as possible.

"Even if it's the first game up, we don't ease ourselves into it. We expect to hit the ground running. We don't have any excuse for not being cohesive because it's our first game."

Ireland have been readying themselves for their four-game autumn schedule with warm weather training in Portugal, with McCarthy noting the physicality of forwards coach Paul O'Connell's sessions in particular have been ideal preparation for what is to come this month.

"It's great to be over in Portugal," he added.

"We have put in some seriously good sessions, they have been tasty enough.

"The sessions we have had here prepare you super well for a game. Paulie's maul sessions and the attack on top of that usually gets you fairly well ready."