Stephen Ferris believes Ireland can compete with the All Blacks
Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris believes that the Irish team can compete with New Zealand when the two teams meet on Saturday 20 November.
He told reporters: "We just need to beat somebody like New Zealand to show the world we're capable of mixing it with the best."
The British and Irish Lion is expected to start the Test against the All Blacks and will be looking for a strong performance against his opposite number Jerome Kaino.
The flanker will also be expected to help out David Wallace in his attempt to stop the disruptive and effective All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Ireland have been criticised for their recent performances. The team lost four games in a row prior to their narrow 20-10 victory over Samoa.
New Zealand will go into the game as massive favourites having beaten England 16-26 and thumping Scotland 49-3 in their opening two matches of the Autumn Internationals.
Despite Ireland’s poor performances, Ferris believes that Ireland can compete with the All Blacks if they can get the basics right.
Speaking at a press conference, Ferris said, “I think the Ireland team has come a lot further in the past two years. We just need to hold onto the ball and get our set-piece firing, then we are a completely
different team.”
The Irish flanker also feels that Ireland were harshly criticised for their 21-23 defeat against the Springboks and that they were unlucky to lose the match. Ferris said, “We’ve been great as a team over
the last couple of years. Everybody has stuck together. We hit the post to draw against South Africa and gave away an intercept. We weren’t that far away from beating the world champions.”
The British and Irish Lion admitted that Ireland would face a daunting challenge this weekend and the forward said: “New Zealand have come a long way too. They are playing some fantastic rugby at the minute.
No doubt they will be doing something similar this weekend.”
Confident as Ferris may be, the bookmakers don't agree. The All Blacks are 1/10 favourites heading into the weekend.
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