While this is Scott Robertson's first time bringing his All Blacks team to Ireland, the country had a formative influence on his career, both as a player and a coach.
Robertson was 18-years-old when he arrived at Ards RFC in County Down in 1993, and while he only spent six months at the club on his travels, the mention of his old life in Ireland 31 years ago brought a slight crackle to his voice when he spoke to the media on Wednesday evening.
"Ooh, a bit emotional actually," he said, when asked if any of his old Newtownards friends had been in touch this week.
"There’s a family there that I lived with when I was a young fella, the Herons. I came over here at 18, played a bit of footy in the All-Ireland League.
"It was a great moment for me growing up and this is a proper chance for me now publicly to thank them for how they helped shape me. It was a great time in my life and it will be good to see them."
Five years after playing AIL rugby for Ards, the back-rower became an All Black and would win 23 caps for New Zealand, before being appointed head coach of his country this year.
And the 50-year-old (below) says his time in Ireland 31 years ago had a big impact on his career.
"I came down to watch a lot of the Five Nations games here in Dublin, so I understand how passionate they are.
"It was a great chance for me, it brought a lot of belief in how I could play. Going home, it really set me off to make sure I could get an education and then I wanted to play rugby at the highest level.
"So, it was good, it gave me a lot of confidence, like I said. It helped me grow up a little bit, get away from mum's dinners, look after myself and I made some really good friends. It was a great time in my life."
'Razor' is 11 games into his tenure after what's been a busy and mixed 2024.
Three wins against England, the latest of which came last week at Twickenham, and two victories over Australia have contributed to a record of eight wins and three defeats, losing twice to South Africa and once at home versus Argentina.
And the former Crusaders boss says he's already learned a lot about the Test game.
"Whatever you have got to learn, you have to learn quick. I think it's the biggest thing, certainly with the group that you've got and who you're playing in front of you, like the different combinations.
"The difference from one week to the next and how to back it up, just your weeks, you've got to be straight on top of it, you're going right into it.
"There is no straight line preparation, there's no pre-season game, your pre-season equivalent is [a series against] England.
"So, how do you coach enough to give them what they need? How the leadership group runs, how to get the best out of them, and just a little bit about myself, how I work and how you feel with the pressure. It's been a hell of an experience," he added.
New Zealand dominated this fixture for more than 100 years, but since Ireland picked up their first win against the All Blacks in 2016, it's been much more evenly matched, with Ireland winning five of their last nine meetings.
Andy Farrell's side have also made Aviva Stadium a fortress, winning their last 19 games at home, and Robertson says a Test match in Dublin is becoming one of the hardest challenges in the game.
"It’s right up there with the Springboks in Jo'burg, isn’t it? Teams that are on top of their game, away from home, full house, ferocious history, especially now. Yeah, it is right up there."
"You look over all their Test matches over the last year maybe, you look at the strength of their teams and the players in the group and, you know, they they can hold the ball and they can put pressure on you with the kick game, you know, they're om the top of the world.
"They are a pretty handy team, aren't they? You respect all the parts of their game and you look for opportunities.
"I have been in Ireland for a few days, just how much of a rugby public they are, one team that represents all of Ireland and how proud they are of it. The difference is probably the structure that they have with the club and their pathway program, the continuity of the amount of Leinster players that play in the green jersey, the level of their coaching is extremely professional," Robertson said.
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