Leinster and Ireland centre Fergus McFadden believes Ireland’s game against New Zealand could be determined by one mistake.
The game tonight sees the top two ranked sides in the world clash in what could be the most important game for either team ahead of next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Despite being underdogs, there is a real optimism in the Irish camp that they can pull off just their second victory over the All-Blacks, after beating them for the first time in 2016 in Chicago.
Speaking on Off The Ball's preview of the game, McFadden, who has made 34 appearances in the green jersey, said Ireland will need to be at the top of their game if they are to pull off another historic win.
“The All-Blacks are so clinical and they’re the best team in the world. Ireland will have to be equally good, if not better in terms of being clinical with their chances when they come,” he told Nathan.
“We can’t turn the ball over against the All-Blacks, they can score from score from nothing and they score a lot of their tries from turnovers and loose kicks.
“In fairness to Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, their ball retention is probably the best out of any other test side and that’s going to be huge today,” he added.
One player McFadden is looking forward to watching against the All-Blacks is Bundee Aki, who will come up against the country of his birth for the first time.
“I think his partnership with Garry Ringrose is going to be key and they’re a stronger partnership than what they are up against. If Johnny Sexton can facilitate those two lads in the right way, I think we can get really good pay there,” he said.
Connacht head coach Andy Friend, who was also in studio, echoed McFadden’s thoughts and called Aki a “warrior” who has “totally bought into the Irish system and proudly wears that jersey”.
“If you give him an inch, he’s going to take it, and he has great power and that’s definitely the area where Ireland can get the edge,” he added.
The All-Blacks are renowned for their constant pressure and ability to play with the same intensity until the final whistle, but McFadden thinks Ireland could hold the advantage in the later stages in the game.
“I actually think the Irish bench is where we are strongest. If you go through the bench and compare it to the All-Black bench, there’s more dynamic guys coming off the Ireland bench in the likes of Sean Cronin, Andrew Porter, Iain Henderson, Jordan Larmour and Luke McGrath – all of those guys can change a game.
“I think that last 20 minutes could potentially benefit Ireland if Joe makes the right changes,” he said.
New Zealand’s record in this fixture is incredible impressive having won 28 of the 30 matches played since their first meeting in 1905.
By Stephen Larkin
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