Aaron Smith warns Ireland that New Zealand are a different beast to last summer

Scrum-half Aaron Smith insists New Zealand are a completely different team to the one defeated by Ireland in 2022 and dismissed talk of revenge ahead of a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final.

Ireland have enjoyed the upper hand in recent clashes with the formidable All Blacks, winning three of four meetings during the Andy Farrell era, including last summer’s landmark 2-1 tour success.

Smith started each of the three Tests – in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington – and feels a rare humbling on home soil “galvanised” Ian Foster’s side.

The 34-year-old has little interest in the past and is fully focused on writing a new chapter in the history books on Saturday evening in Paris.

“Last year matters in the sense of taking the learnings,” said Smith.

“But I believe we’re a totally different team to July last year. We’ve got new coaches and as a group that series really galvanised us. I can’t wait for Saturday to see what happens.

“We’re at a World Cup, we’re playing in a final and it’s all on the line. History is history and history’s going to get created on Saturday and we’ll see who comes out on top.”

Ireland propelled themselves to the top of the world rankings on the back of their historic series win and have remained there ever since.

The milestone achievement also kick-started a remarkable run of 17 successive victories for the Six Nations Grand Slam holders.

Yet three-time champions New Zealand hold the far superior World Cup record and condemned the Irish to a familiar last-eight exit with a thumping 46-14 win at the 2019 tournament in Japan.

The All Blacks’ class of 2023 are out to avoid early elimination and becoming statistically their country’s worst World Cup team.

“My energy is pushed towards more the