KEY POINTS:
No rugby team want their tight five to be a weak link but that's the scenario the All Blacks may have to address when they face a hardened Ireland in the one-off test in Wellington tomorrow night.
Test experience, form and combinations all favour the Irish, who will
hope a little Munster magic can be worked when the packs collide at Westpac Stadium.
The player exodus has stripped New Zealand of key tight men such as prop Carl Hayman and lock Chris Jack while a bruised toe injury has removed prop Tony Woodcock, unquestionably the All Blacks' best scrummager.
Woodcock could yet be unavailable for the two following tests against a powerful England scrum but the All Blacks' focus is firmly on this week.
The onus falls on sizeable props Neemia Tialata and John Afoa to prove they are of test calibre.
Hurricanes loosehead Tialata admitted this week he had been below his best physically and mentally throughout the Super 14.
"With Carl being overseas now and Woody not 100, it puts a bit of pressure on myself and John Afoa to step up and basically take charge," Tialata told NZPA.
"I've been in the team for a couple of years now so I'm quite confident I'll do the job."
Afoa has been recalled for his fourth test after falling from favour two years ago, while hooker Andrew Hore will start for just the seventh time after several seasons ranked behind Keven Mealamu and Anton Oliver.
There is hardly a seasoned look to the reserves bench, with lock Anthony Boric and loose forward cover Adam Thomson both uncapped while prop John Schwalger has played only one test.
Starting locks Ali Williams and Brad Thorn were outstanding throughout the Crusaders' Super 14 campaign but doubts persist whether they will be physically attuned one week after that competition's final.
Also, 33-year-old Thorn's game will undergo serious scrutiny as he is shorter than most test locks and must combat two proven Irish lineout exponents in Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan.
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen has asked Thorn to reproduce his non-stop, strong scrummaging game that proved so effective for the Crusaders after three years away playing rugby league.
"I just want a continuation of his form from the Super 14," Hansen said.
"He's been very physical, has had a high work rate, his lineout work's been good ... big tackles."
Hansen was unconcerned about his tight five's relatively green appearance.
They boast 111 tests between them, boosted by Williams' 46 caps, while the Irish tight group tally 258 tests, led by the 84 of prop John Hayes.
"We've got a lack of experience when it comes to test caps but these guys have been around for a wee while themselves," Hansen said of his pack.
"We've just got to front up and do the job."
The Irish pack is comprised entirely of Munster players apart from No 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Forwards coach Niall O'Donovan said the attitude of his forwards was admirable at the end of a season that stretched back nearly 12 months.
"The Munster guys arrived (in camp) last Wednesday wanting more rugby," O'Donovan said.
"They were still on a high after the Heineken Cup so they're in great shape and I think they're looking forward to this game."
Captain and centre Brian O'Driscoll would love nothing more than to successfully attack the All Blacks with width but his comments suggest a forward-based assault awaits.
The Munster pack was a proven force in Europe and relentlessly wore down Toulouse in a tense European Cup final.
"Hopefully they'll be able to transfer that mentality that they've had, which has been outstanding for them and has been the hallmark of the provincial scene down there (Munster)," O'Driscoll said.
"Now it's just a case of flipping it to the international scene."
- NZPA