Ireland will be without injured wing Fergus McFadden against the All Blacks, while question marks remain over three other key backs, including fired-up veteran Brian O’Driscoll.
McFadden was one of the better performers in Ireland’s 32-15 loss to the Wallabies last weekend but scans revealing a fractured a bone in his hand mean he won’t face the world champions in Dublin on Sunday.
Three British and Irish Lions – centre O’Driscoll (calf), first five-eighth Jonathan Sexton (hamstring) and fullback Rob Kearney (ribs) – must still their prove their fitness.
Sexton remains the biggest doubt although Irish manager Michael Kearney says scans showed the injury is “less worrying than initially feared”.
O’Driscoll, 34, has been carrying the strained calf for two months but is determined to pursue his first win against New Zealand, having lost 13 previous Tests.
“There are lots of times I haven’t played at 100 per cent and, all going well, I shouldn’t be far off 100 per cent come the weekend,” he said.
Ireland have never beaten New Zealand in 27 Tests and are enormous underdogs but O’Driscoll believes they can ruin spoil the visitors’ undefeated season.
Their motivation will be redeeming the listless display against the Wallabies, who scored four unanswered tries.
“We were poor, that level isn’t acceptable. If we play anything like that level against the All Blacks there is the potential for a cricket score,” he said.
“I think the anger part is anger in ourselves. People will use that as motivation to get it right.”
The 135-Test veteran says anything is possible if the All Blacks have an off day and everything clicks for Ireland under their new Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt.
“I’m an eternal optimist. No one will give us a chance, but that’s okay with us,” he said.
Ireland summoned Darren Cave to cover for O’Driscoll and also brought in Felix Jones for Kearney, who dislocated a rib cartilage against the Wallabies.
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