Irish to 'party in the Park'

Eden Park may have been a fortress for the All Blacks since 1994, but the memories are pretty good for Ireland as well.

Ireland scored a dramatic 15-6 victory in a World Cup pool match against Australia at Eden Park last year, and fullback Rob Kearney hopes the good experience will boost their confidence against the All Blacks on Saturday.

"We have really good, strong memories of Eden Park. We played one of our finest games collectively as a team there where each individual stepped up and played really well," he said.

"I think that has to count for something, albeit we're against a different opposition. You try to use every small little thing in your favour and if playing at Eden Park is one of those things, well and good."

Ireland's Six Nations campaign was mixed, recording losses to Wales and England and a draw against France, and Kearney said they needed to meet the standard they showed against Australia more often.

"As players we always believe that we can match it with the best teams in the world when we turn up and we play good rugby," he said.

"What's important for us is that we try to keep reproducing that form. We set a bar in that game (against Australia) and it's important for us to keep matching it."

Against them is their historic record against the All Blacks: 24 Tests, 23 losses, one draw.

The All Blacks remain the only major rugby power Ireland has never beaten, and Kearney says the desire to right that record will fire them up.

"We're representing our country playing against the All Blacks in their own back yard. As a professional player if you can't get yourself fired up for that thought alone, well then you're probably in the wrong game."

Source: NZ Newswire