All Blacks targets Ireland's No.1 spot

NEWS: All Black captain Scott Barrett said his side are expecting an ‘intense’ Test against Ireland in Dublin as the All Blacks targets Ireland’s No.1 world ranking.

New Zealand can return to the top of the world rankings for the first time since 2019 if they beat Ireland and South Africa lose to Scotland on Sunday.

Ireland and New Zealand have developed a fierce rivalry since Ireland ended a 111-year wait when they claimed victory over New Zealand at Soldierfield, Chicago back in 2016.

Ireland currently holds the edge against the men in black by five wins to four, including the victory in Chicago.

Those wins include a historic 2-1 series win for Ireland in New Zealand in 2022 whilst the All Blacks ended Johnny Sexton’s career in the World Cup quarterfinal last year.

The All Blacks’ task is tougher still as Ireland are on a 19-game winning streak at home.

“It’s going to be intense,” said Barrett after training on Thursday.

“Ireland have been right up there, not just the last few years, I think for the last 10 years they’ve been leading the way in a lot of areas.

“Us as All Blacks, we like to be in the picture in terms of the world number one.

“That’s a crown they’ve got at the moment.”

Beauden Barrett said last year’s quarterfinal ‘was one of the greatest matches at the World Cup’.

However the end of the clash was marred by an angry exchange between Sexton and New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane.

Sexton has revealed in his autobiography that Ioane told him ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow, enjoy your retirement’.

Sexton, no shrinking violet himself, answered back with interest.

“I guess there’s a lot of feeling and two teams that want to get a result so, at times emotions can boil over,” said Barrett.

“You’ve just got to be accurate with your game.”

The Irish have been at pains to say they are not on a revenge mission, but Barrett said he and his teammates had used the series defeat as motivation going into their quarterfinal.

“There’s always a lot at stake and even more so against Ireland who potentially have had some success over us in past years,” said the 30-year-old lock.

“Last year’s game at the World Cup, there was a lot of guys hurt by the series loss in 2022 back home, that was easy fuel and you are at a World Cup where everything is heightened.”