Ireland management says the decision not to spend the entire build-up to Saturday's Test against New Zealand in New Plymouth was primarily based on player welfare.
Ireland, who arrived in Auckland late on Sunday night, have been criticised for choosing to spend the early part of the week preparing in the City of Sails and only flying in to the host city two days before the showdown with the All Blacks.
But team manager Paul McNaughton was adamant it was not a case of snubbing New Plymouth, more a matter of player recovery after a bruising encounter against the Barbarians at Thomond Park on Friday night plus 29 hours travel to get to New Zealand.
‘The recovery issue was a major issue,’ McNaughton said.
‘Because we were getting into Auckland too late to fly on we felt from a recovery point of view the best thing to do would be to spend the first three days in Auckland and then go to New Plymouth.
‘The idea of getting the guys on a plane today just really wasn't on from a recovery point of view.
‘It was never an issue of (choosing) Auckland over New Plymouth. It was an issue of what's the best thing to do from a recovery point of view, purely that, and we're happy we've made the right decision on that.’
A side benefit for the squad and management is the chance to familiarise themselves with the facilities in several of the cities they will be playing in during next year's Rugby World Cup as they also have a match against New Zealand Maori in Rotorua on June 18 as part of New Zealand Maori rugby's Centenary celebrations.
Ireland will play the United States in New Plymouth, Australia in Auckland, Russia in Rotorua and Italy in Dunedin in next year's World Cup.
The focus for the next few days is firmly on the All Blacks and what it will take to end a losing streak that stretches back to November 1905.
Experienced flanker David Wallace, who has been on the wrong end five times against the All Blacks, including tight encounters in New Zealand in 2006 and 2008, believes it is about getting the little things right.
‘We just have to focus on what we can do, the processes that we have to go through and making sure we know all the calls and we know what we're doing pattern-wise and then do it,’ said the forward.
‘That's our focus. Getting side-tracked by creating history and all that (won't help) - just playing the All Blacks is a huge motivation in itself.’
Ireland also have the added pressure of getting to grips with the new rules interpretations at the breakdown that the New Zealanders have been getting acclimatised to throughout the Super 14.
‘It's a challenge but we just have to adapt,’ Wallace said. ‘There is nothing more to it than that. We haven't had a lot of games with them. It will be an extra challenge for us but we've just got to get on with it and not be complaining about it.’
He also dismissed the notion that having a northern hemisphere referee - Englishman Wayne Barnes - would benefit Ireland.
‘It depends what way he's going to referee it I suppose,’ the Munster man said with a wry smile. ‘You never know on the day. We'll have to wait and see.’
McNaughton added: ‘I think all the referees north and south have been instructed quite strongly ... in relation to the interpretation of the rules on the June tours. We don't expect any difference really.’
The squad got through their first training run in Auckland unscathed, which will have been a relief for coach Declan Kidney who has seen so many of his front-line players succumb to injury.
The group were still without hooker Jerry Flannery (calf strain) and back Shane Horgan (stomach complaint), who have remained in Ireland for further tests.
A decision on whether they will join their team-mates on tour is expected to be made on Tuesday, although even if that outcome is a favourable one the pair will not be considered for Saturday's match at Yarrow Stadium.
Backs coach Alan Gaffney admitted without the likes of experienced campaigners Paul O'Connell, Rory Best and Denis Leamy, plus rising stars Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald, Ireland faced a ‘touch tougher’ time in trying to overturn the All Blacks but felt they still had the players to do it.
‘We are still confident with the squad we have out here. We're coming out here confident in our abilities,’ said the Australian. ‘But it's going to be a tough day at the office, obviously, and we fully understand that.
‘But we're going to go out there with a great deal of confidence at the weekend.’
Kidney and opposite number Graham Henry name their teams on Tuesday.
