Aisle Be Back: Dublin

Lord have mercy on the All Blacks if they turn up in Dublin expecting that they simply can't lose to Ireland twice in a row.

One suspects that isn't the case, and that we'll see a very different beast on Sunday, no doubt fortified by wanting to deliver for the quake-hit folk back home.

However the Irish have plenty of positives on their side of the ledger:

- They're playing at home where they often push the All Blacks hard - and they're aware of the danger of falling off the pace around the 60 minute mark.

- They're playing with the confidence of breaking a hundred year drought.

- The team is largely rested and has showed that it can play quality test football.

- And Joe Schmidt is too smart to send them out thinking that what worked in Chicago will work in Dublin.

For the All Blacks, of course, positives too:

- At least one if not two of the big rigs will be back at lock, allowing the pack to assume its usual shape.

- They've had a serious challenge laid down to them for the first time this year - so the heat is very much on.

- And while they don't talk about revenge, this is one dish the All Blacks will be dying to consume either hot or cold.

I'd say we'll know in the first couple of minutes how the All Blacks are travelling - if you see those big smashing tackles from Kaino and Read a la World Cup final, then it will be a long day for Ireland.

But if the Irish can control possession again and stay in the game for a long time, then it's all on. And what if the rain starts to pelt down.  I can't wait!

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How lucky are we in Canes' country. Our first-five is the BEST player in the world, and the only serious challenger was our skipper.

It will be interesting though to see whether Beaudy will start on Sunday, after a couple of quiet performances, and a nice outing by Aaron Cruden against Italy.

I doubt the change will be made. BB didn't get any decent ball for nigh on 40 minutes in Chicago - hardly his fault -  but he did largely make the pressure goal kicks.

A decent kicking game is surely what will be sought against Ireland, especially to make their defence think twice and to pressure them into playing kick back from deep. So that's largely upto Beaudy if he starts.

I'd expect however that he'll get hooked back to fullback and Cruden bought on early if he can't execute well in the first 40.

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I hope you realise there's a horrific chance that England could set a world record test match winning streak by the end of the Six Nations.

Plenty of tough games to go, starting with Argentina and then (December 3) against the Wallabies.

Australia by then may be playing for the Grand Slam (although Ireland threaten that) and of course some redemption after their home whitewash at the hands of Fast Eddie.

Plenty to look forward to as the year heads to a close then.

Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. This year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title