Donal Lenihan: We have enough 'big boys' to beat Kiwis

New Zealand have dropped Mark Telea heading into the quarter-final. It's not ideal. Telea is a very good young player. By all accounts he broke team curfew. In other words, you have to be back in the hotel by a certain time in the evening. That appears to be the issue.

There’s a lot being made of it. Mark Telea is a very good player, but he’s not Jonah Lomu. He’s not one of the star players in the team. The guy who replaces him, Leicester Fainga'anuku, was outstanding last time out. I did the commentary on New Zealand-Uruguay, he got three tries that night. He’s an outstanding player.

In terms of the impact it has on Ireland, I don’t think it makes any difference.

All Blacks scrum-half great Justin Marshall has been talking up Ireland. New Zealand people know their rugby. Justin Marshall knows his rugby. They’ve been incredibly impressed by the way Ireland have played. We’re on the verge of a record equalling 18 Test wins in a row. Unprecedented success for Ireland.

There’s a consistency in selection. People know the players, they know the team, they know the way they play. I think 13 of the side that starts tomorrow played in the third Test in Wellington when Ireland won the Series [against the All Blacks]. James Ryan and Robbie Henshaw are the only two that are missing.

That consistency in selection, that understanding, the fluidity that this team has. Teams know in advance what Ireland are going to go, but that doesn’t mean they can stop them. That is the key for New Zealand tomorrow.

There’s been a lot spoken about Joe Schmidt. He stood on the sidelines for that Series last year but he was brought in immediately after the Series in a more hands-on role. The more this team is developing, you can see Joe Schmidt’s hands all