All Blacks clash not a 'revenge' mission, says Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan

Ireland are still hurting from their last meeting with New Zealand but won't bill Friday’s game as a "revenge" mission, according to Hugo Keenan.

Such was the bitter disappointment of last October’s World Cup quarter-final defeat in Paris, an Autumn Nations Series win over the All Blacks wouldn’t come close to making up for it.

However, Friday’s clash at Aviva Stadium, the first of four Tests in November, will serve to put a little more distance between Andy Farrell’s men and the remnants of their World Cup hangover.

"We are still hurting a bit from the World Cup, it was a hugely disappointing loss," Keenan told RTÉ Sport.

"But we have to view it as a fresh series back at home, the excitement around playing four brilliant sides.

"A lot of things have changed since then through playing squads and coaching staff as well.

"It's not a new cycle either but, no, I don’t think we’ll be looking at it as a revenge game.

"It’s a game against one of the top nations in the world and historically probably the best team in the world."

Ireland, who had beaten defending champions South Africa in their Pool B clash, went into the last-eight game believing their time had come and a first semi-final beckoned.

Just over a year previous, Farrell’s men claimed a 2-1 series win in New Zealand.

But a poor start had Ireland facing an uphill battle and the All Blacks, who went on to lose the final by a point to the Springboks, edged the tie 28-24.

The Six Nations champions dominated most of the match stats that evening, having more possession, territory, runs, offloads, while New Zealand had two players sin-binned.

Keenan was asked what he felt could have gotten his side over the line that night at the Stade de France.

"Yeah, it is nearly as simple as the