While Andrew Goodman may only be heading into his first game-week in the job, Ireland's new attack coach is well placed to offer an insight into this New Zealand side.
The Kiwi took over as Ireland’s attack and backs coach following the departure of Mike Catt in the summer, and as luck would have it, the former Leinster assistant's first opposition to try find holes in are the All Blacks.
To make it even more interesting, this is an All Blacks side who are now coached by Scott Robertson, the man Goodman earned his stripes working under at the Crusaders.
"Razor [Scott Robertson] was a big mentor to me," Goodman said of his relationship with the New Zealand coach.
"He gave me my opportunity at the Crusaders and he’s someone I learned a great deal off so I’ve got huge respect for Razor and all of his coaching group. I’ve worked alongside all of them. It's going to be great to go to battle with them."
While that familiarity with Robertson and his coaching staff has its benefits, Goodman is quick to remind that it isn't necessarily an advantage.
"Obviously it works both ways; they know me well also.
"There’s little things you’ll look to maybe think about how they might do different areas of the game or what they might bring but it's test rugby, it’s a different level to what we were playing in Super Rugby in New Zealand. So it was a different game. The game has kind of moved on and evolved a lot over the last couple of years," he added.
Goodman is similarly close with some of the players in the New Zealand squad, dating back to his Crusaders days.
In particular, he goes back a long way with All Blacks wing-turned-full-back Will Jordan, whose incredible strike rate at Test level has now hit 36 tries in just 38 New Zealand caps.
Jordan has spoken about how influential the current Ireland assistant has been in his development, and Goodman knows Ireland will have a tough job containing him in Dublin on Friday.
"Will was a young 18-year-old that moved up from Christchurch Boys to my home province, Tasman Mako.
"He was someone with huge potential and promise coming out of school, and we managed to get him up the road to the top of the South Island and then I obviously worked with him for a number of years at Tasman and then through the Crusaders as well.
"You'll know, his Test try record stands for itself.
"He anticipates play really well, he'll pop out in all sorts of spots and get his hands on the ball as much as possible. So he's definitely someone we're going to have to be on high alert for and try limit his impacts in the game.
"He was great to coach because he anticipates and he sees things [quickly], and then he'll pop up in spaces that you don't expect him to pop up in because he's ahead of the game.
"So we have to talk about where he is the whole time and identify him, see where he could pop up and try to make an impact. He's someone we'll have to keep a close eye on."
While this is Goodman’s first game week as Ireland’s attack coach, there shouldn't be any significant teething problems.
Having spent two seasons working alongside the bulk of this Irish squad at Leinster, he also joined the squad on this summer’s tour of South Africa, where he shadowed Catt during his final games running the attack.
Additionally, the recent Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa was just as beneficial for Goodman as it was for the young players in Bloemfontein.
"It was massive. I think the integration process was extremely beneficial for myself.
"Obviously going away to South Africa, being on tour, getting to know staff and players from other provinces that I hadn't spent much time with, and then again to have the opportunity to go away with the Emerging Ireland squad and a lot of staff carry-over there, you get used to the weeks and working alongside the coaches etc, some of the younger players coming through.
"I've come to this little mini-camp here knowing everyone, which is crucial. I know everyone, I don't need to learn names, I'm not trying to get to know everyone and I can just get on with the rugby, which is of course the most important thing," he added.
Goodman admits he couldn’t have picked a better game to start his Test coaching career with.
"Growing up in New Zealand, I was rugby mad and the All Blacks were a big part of my upbringing.
"My family was a rugby family so I've got the relationships I've got, not only through the coaching and management staff but through the playing group as well, makes it extra special.
"It's an opportunity for me to be a full-time Test coach and I'm very grateful for the opportunity that I've been given and the support I've had from the whole staff and playing group through this time.
"So, feel alive, people have asked me what the emotions are like, I feel nervous, I feel excited, getting up in the morning I know there's something great to look forward to.
"So I feel alive and I'm looking forward to it."
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