Time for All Blacks to break out of Irish shadow and restore status as rugby's innovators

On Saturday morning, the eyes of the rugby world will be on Dublin, where the All Blacks take on Ireland in this rivalry that has seemed to have come from nowhere.

In 2016, I was at Soldier Field in Chicago when Ireland broke their duck and murdered the All Blacks. They really did. It was a win for the ages.

But ever since - and I have written about this many times - it feels to me that New Zealand rugby has been chasing its tail and has been living in the shadow that Ireland has cast.

I don't know why.

I find the attitude towards the Irish respectful, yes, but maybe overly so. New Zealand have always been the innovators in the game of rugby union. We need to get back to being the innovators in the game of rugby union.

Over the last five or six years, we have seemed to be obsessed with what Ireland achieved under Joe Schmidt, so much so that we couldn't wait to get Joe Schmidt back into the All Blacks environment. We're now obsessed about their rushed defence. We're obsessed about the tactics of Andy Farrell. We seem to have become embroiled in petty feuds between the players.

It is a strange rivalry, one that 10 years ago, I wouldn't have expected to ever eventuate. It is what it is, though. It is here now and the All Blacks are there preparing for a tough Test match.

But they should be preparing with confidence. We saw signs of life against Australia to finish the Rugby Championship. We saw signs of life in terms of their attack structure against the English. They outscored the English three tries to one - the one England try rather fortuitous with Marcus Smith's pick-off right on England's goal line. Yes, they went the length but after that they shut up shop and the All Blacks managed to get the victory.

I think there's reason to be confident in this All Blacks side. I hope the All Blacks are confident in what they can produce against Ireland.

Yes, sometimes throughout this season it's felt a little bit ragged. It's felt a little bit disconnected. But make no mistake, even without Beauden Barrett, even without Codie Taylor, surely we still have the utmost belief in our ability to produce out-and-out superstars in the Test arena.

This is going to be where we find out whether Scott Robertson, Jason Ryan, Jason Holland et al have put a plan in place that this team can execute and execute well. I think if they get anywhere close to their best on attack, I don't think the Irish will be able to live with them.

I find this rivalry intriguing. But more so, this is the All Blacks' opportunity to show the world that they are still the top dogs when it comes to playing flamboyant, attacking, open rugby, and that is what the sport desperately needs.

Not umbrella defences, not playing for penalties, not boring the tits off everyone watching. But superstars doing their thing at the highest level.

It is time for the boys in black to show the world that they do not live in any shadow right now.