Sean Fitzpatrick: Shelford factor so vital

There will be a key factor in next Saturday's vital test match against Ireland - what you might call the Buck Shelford factor.

Most people are picking the England test match as the could-lose test in the All Blacks' Grand Slam ambitions. But I have said right from the beginning that the Irish might be the toughest test. I am thinking of Buck Shelford when I say that.

In the 1989 test at Lansdowne Road, the Irish were really worked up. They confronted the haka and, from kick-off, took Buck Shelford out. He only lasted about 20 minutes and, as we all know from All Black history, Shelford did not often leave the field.

The Irish were on fire that day and they will be on fire again on Saturday. I don't think we can underestimate them. We managed to swing that game around but it was hard work. They do not give an inch, they are hard men - they are a lot like New Zealanders, really.

Their coach Eddie O'Sullivan will have a point to prove. He was a part of the much-criticised Lions coaching set-up this year but it was always Sir Clive Woodward's call and O'Sullivan will want to show what he can do in his own right.

Add to that the fact that the Irish will be coming in fresh and that they will study the All Black game plan and performance. The South Africans did that this year - they watched the All Blacks against the Lions and then came up with a plan to beat them. Under O'Sullivan, the Irish will attempt to do the same.

They will also be seeking to play with skill, as I am sure O'Sullivan will be drilling into them that mere passion is not enough. Guys like Irish forward Willie Anderson used to work themselves into a rare state to play the All Blacks but they'll need more. A reason for that is Buck, again. Like me - and all All Blacks - he had a highly developed fear of losing. No one wants to be in the team that loses the first test to Ireland or Scotland, or the first test to the Welsh since 1953.

It is a fierce drive that fuels All Black teams. Some British teams can be happy with a close loss against a good foe. Not us. There is no honour in defeat for the All Blacks. Long may it continue - it is part of the reason the All Blacks have done so well down the years.

We've seen a bit of this surface with the Kiwi league team - that great win over Australia was followed by a two-point loss and people said: "Didn't they play well?"

OK, but that would never happen with an All Black loss. In spite of what Graham Henry is trying to do - and I approve of his drive towards the 2007 World Cup - it will be interesting to see the fallout if we lose one of these four.