Ireland must be prepared to expect the unexpected from New Zealand early on in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, according to former All Black James Parsons.
Andy Farrell's side have made a habit of fast starts in big games, with James Lowe scoring their first try inside 60 seconds in the win against Scotland last week, while they also scored early tries in each of their three Tests against the All Blacks last summer.
Ireland are marginal favourites to beat New Zealand and end their quarter-final hoodoo at the Stade de France, but Parsons told RTÉ Sport that he expects the All Blacks to throw their chips in early on Saturday night.
"For us, the All Blacks, we've got to show them something they haven’t seen, especially early in the game, you have to put that pressure on the breakdown," the former Auckland Blues hooker told the RTÉ Rugby World Cup podcast.
Parsons cited the comfort that Ireland's half-back pair Jamison Gibson-Park and Johnny Sexton enjoyed during last week's win against Scotland, and wants to see New Zealand's defence throw something unexpected at them to keep them honest.
"They [Ireland] take their time to set Jamo [Gibson-Park] for those kicks. Jamo was 11 carries and eight kicks against Scotland, whereas Sexton was five carries and two kicks. We’ve got to not allow them kick or play on their terms.
"You have to shock them. If you show them one picture early, you can show another picture. And it gets them thinking, and it just gives them a moment of hesitation, that maybe Sexton has to carry, or maybe he throws that pass and it gets intercepted, or maybe you hit that ruck off the kick-off and the ball bobbles out and Jamo can't kick from a stable base."
In addition, Parsons believes that Ian Foster's side should be willing to take more risks in defence, and put more emphasis on the quality of the tackles they make, rather than the quantity of them.
"All of those little fights, it may only work once, but if you keep going and keep going and keep going and keep going, it could be that one play.
"That’s the relentless mindset that the All Blacks will have to bring for 80 minutes.
"Scotland tacked at 93% [against Ireland] but they were all passive [tackles]. You're just not stopping that. That’s why Jamo ran 11 times, because people are standing and watching what’s going on."
Defence will be key on both sides. Ireland have been outstanding in their last two games on the other side of the ball, limiting South Africa and Scotland to just 22 points combined across their meetings in Pool B.
Bernard Jackman joined Parsons on the podcast, and says while the Irish defence have impressed in recent weeks, they haven't come up against an attacking threat quite like New Zealand.
"Against the All Blacks we’re going to have to defend for our lives," he said.
"Thankfully our defence against Scotland was excellent, but that’s not a litmus test for what you’re gong to face. The All Black attack is far more fluid, and even the Springbok game, we defended well against them with huge effort and honesty and good detail, but the Boks aren't the best attacking team in the world.
"If the All Blacks bring their best attacking game, that’s only time you can judge your defence and say 'yeah, we have a world class defence’.
"We've gone from being quite a passive team who made a lot of tackles, but very few impact tackles or forced turnovers. Now you’re seeing much more freedom.
"[Garry] Ringrose certainly has a licence to make reads and I don't think they get stressed about those missed tackles, because it forces errors or sends people down dark alleys."
When the sides met last summer, the series was arguably won and lost up front, with the Irish pack dominating their hosts both at the set-piece and on the ground where Tadhg Beirne were causing havoc at the breakdown.
Since then there have bene big changes in the coaching ticket, with Jason Ryan recruited as forwards coach to replace ex-Ireland assistant John Plumtree. Ryan (below) brought a big reputation with him to the New Zealand camp, having played his part in six Super Rugby titles at the Crusaders, and Parsons says he's made the All Blacks pack a force to be reckoned with once again.
"They've definitely improved [in the pack], you just look at their set-piece, their maul-D, their breakdown for the most part, but this will be the big test. The breakdown will be the big test," he said of Ryan's influence.
"Having Shannon [Frizell] there will be huge, we know what Ardie [Savea] can bring. You guys have been a bit harsh on our skipper [Sam Cane], but that guy cleans more rucks than most and the boys love him.
"We know what Brodie [Retallick] has done, you don't become world player of the year in the second row if you don’t know how to do the business up front, and then the Flash Harry stuff. There's the pack there."
And if New Zealand are to gain dominance up front, Parsons believes they will need to attack and carry the ball in clusters to outnumber the Irish defence.
"I think it’s important to have that clarity of, once the ball goes to that middle forward, he’s ducking his head and we’re going to have six legs or at least four legs against two, and have Irish players landing on their back and we’re on top.
"The worst thing we could do is send one up there, isolate them and they go backwards. That’s only going to generate further belief in the Irish team.
"That first 10 minutes is going to be brutal. It’s going to be brilliant to watch, not so good for the bodies out there, but I think it will be a sign of what the Test will be."
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