New Ireland coach Declan Kidney faces his sternest examination as a cautious All Blacks team touch down in the Emerald Isle for this weekend's showdown.

However, it you listen to Irish columnist Vincent Hogan, it is a hugely unpopular New Zealand team who will, if they lose this weekend, witness one of rugby’s great redemptive offerings – as well as performing a haka that is “essentially, a leery war dance”.

This has gone down with expected apathy in New Zealand, where journalists are now firmly back on the All Blacks' bandwagon thanks to a successful 2008 season so far. Local media in Aotearoa have responded by gaily pointing out that Ireland have not won in 21 clashes between the two nations, and swanked over the All Blacks' No.1 world ranking.

Some would have us believe that when the All Blacks look at Ireland, they see “lifelong losers” noting that full strength Irish sides lost to New Zealand this year when the Blacks were still rebuilding, and also lost in 2006 when Graham Henry was rotating his team like a crazed maniac behind the wheel. The last time the All Blacks played Ireland in Dublin, they rotated their entire starting XV and won 45-7.

Of course, both camps are paying precious little attention to the media frenzy, following the time-honoured tradition of talking their opponents up.

For the All Blacks, Henry has made 11 changes to the “second XV” that beat Scotland and has duly wheeled out the howitzers, unveiling a line-up featuring 618 Test caps.

"The Irish have a very fine side and there is a lot of depth in Irish rugby," Henry said at his team-naming press conference. "They are the European champions at club level (Munster), they probably have two of the best sides at club level in Europe and they played very well on the southern tour recently and could have won both games.''

There are no significant surprises to the side, with only Joe Rokocoko, Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams and Ma’a Nonu remaining from last week’s game. Kieran Read has been selected on the bench, suggesting that he may have overtaken Adam Thompson for the utility back-row role. On paper it is an astonishingly strong team considering the All Blacks lost 500 Test caps 12 months ago.

Irish coach Kidney has made one surprise choice, selecting Tomas O’Leary at scrum-half ahead of Eoin Reddan, so with Ronan O’Gara at stand-off will unite a Munster combination – with 11 of the starting 22 from the famous province.

Despite the brilliant debut of Munster fullback Keith Earls, Kidney has opted for experience, calling in Leinster custodian Girvan Dempsey. He is one of four Lions in the Irish backline, the most significant of which is of course captain Brian O’Driscoll, who will lead his country for the 50th time.

Kidney said his team selection was tailored to the All Blacks with experience influencing his thinking. "We have selected a team with a skill set that gives us the best possible chance on Saturday,” he maintained.

"New Zealand are the Tiger Woods of world rugby, they're an extremely good side. This is probably the toughest time to play them. They have the objective of winning a Grand Slam tour. We have no illusions as to how hard it will be but we want to test ourselves against the best.”

Key men for Ireland: Earning his 45th test cap, Munster openside David Wallace will try to counter the brilliance of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. Munster locks Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan will look to rule the air – one area where the Irish may be able to dominate off the kicking game of O’Gara, who is probably a better tactical kicker than any All Black but is only a shadow of the runner Dan Carter is.

But the spotlight will again be on O’Driscoll, playing against the only Test nation he has not beaten. If he can shut down the midfield of the All Blacks, it will increase the pressure on New Zealand. It goes both ways - if the Irish captain has a good game, Ireland may be in with a chance; if he doesn't, the  All Blacks will run riot.

Key men for New Zealand: The mercurial threats will be McCaw and Carter, but this is a big game for the All Black back line. Mils Muliaina, Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu are the most experienced threequarters New Zealand wield, but have not played together in over a year. They may be rusty but it will be a long evening for Ireland if they fire. Likewise Conrad Smith is under pressure from Richard Kahui, and his performance is shutting down the Irish captain will go far to cementing his spot.

Last week we saw a rare spectacle, an All Blacks scrum not imposing themselves on the opposition. With the strongest pack available to New Zealand rugby, bar Andrew Hore, trundled out to Croke Park they will look to lay the platform for a strong All Blacks win.

Head to Head: Played 21, New Zealand won 20, Ireland won 0, drawn 1.

Last clash: June 7, 2008, Wellington: New Zealand 21 Ireland 11

Prediction: 82,000 partisan Irish will inspire their heroes, but with a Grand Slam in New Zealand's sights, O'Driscoll's men will not have enough to avoid defeat by 12 points.