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All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane said South Africa would be a completely different challenge to Ireland when the sides meet in the Lipovitan-D first Rugby Championship Test in Nelspruit on Sunday (NZT).
Accentuating the positive in the face of Covid's intrusion into their preparations has been the mantra for the All Blacks ahead of Saturday's first Steinlager Series Test against Ireland at Eden Park.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster has asked Joe Schmidt to help the team prepare this week, with a third All Blacks coach, Scott McLeod, testing positive for Covid 19.
Irish media pundits have been guarded in their expectations of Ireland's three-Test Steinlager series in New Zealand.
As a fresh-faced newcomer to All Blacks rugby in 2001 in Ireland, future captain and 148-Test player Richie McCaw had an early appreciation of the star power of teammate and wing Jonah Lomu.