New Zealand v Ireland Eden Park, tomorrow, 8.35amIf Ireland are not to rewrite history tomorrow in the second Test in Auckland, then at the very least they are compelled not to revisit it. To avoid being cast in the traditional Irish role of plucky losers in the first Test before rolling over and having their bellies tickled in the second, Eddie O'Sullivan's team need to replicate the performance of last week and again take the game to the All Blacks.

On all available evidence, their best chance of rewriting the record books and becoming the first Irish team in history to beat the All Blacks may have passed them by, and going toe to toe with the world's best team once again looks a taller order too.

Graham Henry may talk about a rotational selection policy and hint that the three changes to his starting XV along with the promotion of Andrew Hore and Craig Newby to the replacements bench were all part of these "trials" for the upcoming and expanded Tri Nations.

Nevertheless, it is surely not entirely coincidental that the trio of changes would all seem designed to improve the All Blacks' main areas of sluggishness in Hamilton last Saturday, namely the lineout, the breakdown and midfield defence.

Granted, it's often easier for a player to make an impact on a game when introduced 50 or 60 minutes in than when toiling away in a rusty side from the kick-off.

Even so, the evidence of the All Blacks' more tactically focused and much improved last half-hour, as against the overambitious and flawed first 50 minutes, suggests the changes may have a positive effect from the kick-off.

Taking those changes in tandem with a generally sharper and more practical approach from the outset, you'd have to presume the All Blacks will not repeat the kind of mistakes - two kicks out on the full, an overthrow at the tail - that contributed to Ireland turning an early 5-0 deficit into a 10-5 lead.

You'd also imagine the All Blacks will improve some of their basics and, whatever the weather, engage in a more confrontational approach in the opening quarter - ie, the kind of mauling and close-in driving game with which they began to turn the screw after the hour mark.

Such is their superb lineout, Ireland should at least be the equal of the All Blacks in this department. But one can't imagine the All Blacks brains trust, with all their expertise, not having burned the midnight oil in their video-analysis room and applied plenty of time on the training ground to rectifying much of their problems from a week ago - not to mention the more competitive presence of Troy Flavell along with a more viable third option in Jerome Kaino.

By comparison, will Ireland have been able to rectify their scrummaging problems in the first Test in the available time with the same personnel? And given the worsening weather this week, there's the ominous possibility of more scrums tomorrow.

For sure, Ireland can look to improve in certain areas, not least in avoiding a repeat of the 11-6 penalty count of a week ago. Discipline has been one of the Irish team's true virtues in the last couple of years, and they enjoy a good working relationship with Jonathan Kaplan, who may also allow more of a contest at the breakdown.

They will also aim to be a bit more precise in their execution of moves, with Brian O'Driscoll, for example, capable of scaling the same heights as last week with his running game and bettering his distribution. Somehow though, you see him being obliged to kick more tomorrow.

Perhaps a more structured kicking game wouldn't be the worst-case scenario for Ireland, given that Ronan O'Gara (playing in his 62nd Test) is a more astute and experienced tactical kicker than Luke McAlister (playing in his seventh, and starting only his third). Even so, McAlister underlined last week in the second half that he can find huge touchkicks.

Head-to-head, Ireland boast almost 10 caps per player more, but then again, that perhaps says more about choice and selection policies. One recalls Irish teams having more experience in each meeting since the turn of the Millennium. More pertinent is the imbalance in ability, and sheer physique and power, for nothing dictates the modern contest quite like the physical collision.

Is is particularly pronounced in the back lines, illustrations being Mils Muliaina breaking through O'Gara's tackle in the first 30 seconds last week to Ma'a Nonu bursting through Peter Stringer's in the 74th minute, in the build-up to the first and third tries.

According to the official "biogs", the All Blacks' back line is two centimetres taller and two kilograms heavier per man.

To compound this advantage last week, the All Blacks made more use of the bench to bring on fresher legs. While Flavell and Kaino beefed up the Kiwis' forward effort, Ireland visibly wilted. Would Jerry Flannery have made that late shoulder charge on Mils Muliaina in the first 10? Would Paul O'Connell have been drilled back in contact or made those handling errors in the first 10? (In his utter defence, how come he was always the first Irish tight forward on to the ball?) Would Shane Horgan have been the only one chasing Stringer's chip had there been more fresh legs on the pitch, etc, etc?

But here history is just as likely to be repeated. Despite being on the bench in eight of Ireland's nine Tests this season, Rory Best has seen precisely eight minutes of playing time in three exceedingly brief appearances. Indeed, there have been no changes made to the front row during four of Ireland's last six matches.

Similarly, whether David Humphreys has been on the bench or not, there have been no changes made at halfback in Ireland's six Tests to date in 2006. And in seven stints on the bench this season, Girvan Dempsey's four brief appearances have amounted to 29 minutes, two of them coming in the death throes of defeats to the All Blacks. Only against England did he have time or occasion to make a meaningful contribution.

Of course, when you have 10 times as many players (and can cherry pick from three neighbouring islands with remarkable rugby conveyor belts), you're liable to have an advantage in size and physical power. That is partly why Ireland have never beaten New Zealand in over 100 years of trying, and why it remains as unlikely as ever this time round.

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina (Chiefs); D Howlett (Blues), C Laulala (Crusaders), A Mauger (Crusaders), J Rokocoko (Blues); L McAlister (Blues), B Kelleher (Chiefs); C Dermody (Highlanders), K Mealamu (Blues), C Hayman (Highlanders); C Jack (Crusaders), T Flavell (Blues); J Kaino (Blues), R McCaw (Crusaders, capt), R So'oialo (Wellington). Replacements: A Hore (Hurricanes), N Tialata (Hurricanes), G Rawlinson (Blues), C Newby Highlanders), J Cowan (Highlanders), D Hill (Chiefs), M Nonu (Hurricanes).

IRELAND: G Murphy (Leicester); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), N Best (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster). Replacements: R Best (Ulster), B Young (Ulster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), I Boss (Ulster), AN Other, G Dempsey (Leinster).

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Australia).

Overall head-to-head: Played 19, New Zealand 18 wins, 1 draw, Ireland 0 wins.

Biggest win: New Zealand - 59-6, Wellington 1992.

Odds (Paddy Powers): 1/10 New Zealand, 33/1 Draw, 11/2 Ireland. Handicap odds (= Ireland +17 pts) 10/11 New Zealand, 33/1 Draw, 10/11 Ireland.

Forecast: All Blacks to win.