All Blacks coach Ian Foster expects Ireland to have gained confidence ahead of the second test in Dunedin next week despite losing the opener of the three-match series in Auckland.
The All Blacks will look to brush off a preparatory week disrupted by a Covid outbreak in the squad and reassert their ascendancy over Ireland in the first test at Eden Park.
Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga'anuku will make his All Blacks debut against Ireland on Saturday, while Scott Barrett has been named at No 6 for the first time since the shock 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat.
Two All Black coaches are isolating at home with Covid, while Crusaders midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue are out of the team. Fellow teammate Braydon Ennor has joined the squad as cover.
If Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and All Blacks coach Ian Foster were TV sets, Foster would be black and white and Razor would be high-def full colour.