O'Sullivan needs 80-minute effort

Warren Gatland Rugby AnalystFor me, this Test match will really tell Ireland where they are in world rugby, given they played well in the first Test and the All Blacks' three changes have strengthened their side.

But this second Test is going to be a real indication of where Ireland stand in relation to the best team in the world over successive Saturdays in New Zealand.

After all, Graham Henry has stated they are the best team in the Northern Hemisphere along with France. But that statement will seem more credible if they produce another good, competitive performance in the second Test.

So it is important for them to at least produce the same level of performance and hopefully improve on last week's effort. That's going to be their challenge.

To achieve that, improving the scrum is important, and they're also going to have to last the 80 minutes. As I mentioned in my analysis of the first Test, Eddie needs to use the guys on the bench for an extended period. That's going to be important in the game for them, whether they're ahead or behind - getting fresh legs on to the pitch.

I have no doubt the All Blacks will be more direct and carry out the gameplan they devised last week. But scoring that opening try from inside their own 22 inside the first minute induced them into playing a more open brand of rugby than they set out to do.

I think the general feeling in New Zealand is the All Blacks need to improve, and that everyone expects them to do so.

The All Blacks always seem to be a little bit rusty in the first Test of the year and are normally a good bit stronger in the second. That's the challenge facing Ireland.

The All Blacks will expect to be more accurate and, specifically, improve their lineout, while also reducing their number of turnovers.

Ireland were effective in creating a number of turnovers and the All Blacks will have looked hard at their error rate.

The All Blacks have increased the size of their forward pack with the changes they've made, especially with the introduction of Jerome Kaino in the back row for Marty Holah, thus giving themselves a better lineout option at the back.

Kaino is an incredibly talented player. They took him to Britain two years ago and he played brilliantly against the Barbarians, but he's been out for much of the year with injury and has only just come back.

He's a very talented athlete and they've a lot of time for him. Alongside Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo, given the huge resources they have in this area, it's a huge opportunity for him.

The selection of Casey Laulala alongside Aaron Mauger gives them a combination of the two Crusaders midfielders, which should make that area reasonably smooth as well. He spent a lot of time on the Crusaders' bench this season, but latterly had more of a starring role, and he scored a really crucial try in the Super 14 final. He's an all-round player, he has pace and he can offload.

I still see the All Blacks using their bench as well, with Andrew Hore coming on for Keven Mealamu, and Neemia Tialata for Clarke Dermody. And I see them using Ma'a Nonu again. With Conrad Smith injured and Tana Umaga retired, the All Blacks' management are trying to fill that hole, and it could be Nonu becomes an impact player.

This leads to an important factor in this match. With 39 players being used over these two games, the Junior All Blacks and the Maoris and the Under-21s also in competition, the competition for places in the 30-man squad is huge.

The "other" team is off to Argentina, so this is now a cut-off point for the naming of the All Blacks squad. Hence there is a lot at stake for these All Blacks, not just pride in wearing the jersey but all that goes with it.

The key areas will be the set-piece. Will the All Blacks improve their lineout or will the Irish continue their supremacy there? And I presume the Irish have spent a lot of time working on their "hit" and their speed of engagement at scrum time. The All Blacks were much more aggressive on their engagement and a lot quicker as well. I think the All Blacks' three changes will strengthen them, they'll have pored over the tape, they'll have more cohesion, and will win.

Where can Ireland improve on a really good performance? The big thing for me last week was that they ran out of steam. Their all-round game was really good, they defended well, they retained possession well and they kicked their goals. But this is going to have to be an 80-minute performance if they're going to be in with a chance of winning.

The All Blacks won't panic, even if they're behind with 10 minutes to go.

From last week, they'll still feel that if they keep applying pressure right up until the 80th minute they'll pull through.

The biggest thing for me is Eddie using his squad of 22 players. In the Six Nations that probably isn't as important a factor, so this is going to be a good test for him as to how he approaches that.

(In an interview with Gerry Thornley)