Preview: All Blacks visit always special as Ireland expects

Even when New Zealand were routinely handing out hammerings to Irish sides over the last 30 years, the visit of the All Blacks to Dublin has always been special.

The relationship, since 2016, has changed beyond recognition and no longer do players and fans fear what is about to unfold.

Ireland, off the back of five wins in their previous nine encounters, go into this game as six-point favourites and there is a sense of expectation that Andy Farrell's side will get the job done.

The hosts are on a 19-game winning streak at Aviva Stadium, which stretches back to 2021 when France won in the Six Nations.

In fact, Ireland have an even more impressive record at home across the autumn internationals, losing just once since 2013, when New Zealand came to town in 2016; that was a vicious clash as the All Blacks, who won 21-9, came hell bent on revenge for the Chicago loss two weeks earlier.

Aside from the 2019 World Cup quarter-final, all of the games have been exciting, close-fought contests, enhancing the new found rivalry between the teams.

"A healthy one, good one," said head coach Andy Farrell, who had just joined the Ireland set-up as defence coach, of the change of dynamics following the 2016 Chicago win.

"It's exactly how we would want it anyway.

"I suppose New Zealand over the years have had it in a sense where they probably thought they should win against Ireland, but the way that we've performed or improved since Soldier Field, hopefully the respect is a little bit higher from their side for us now."

While Ireland have a better head-to-head in recent seasons, thanks to a series win in New Zealand in 2022, the craw stuck in the Irish throats is the World Cup.

There's not one man among the squad who wouldn't swap every win over