Reddan raises the bar for Ireland

A strong performance by Ireland against New Zealand will mean nothing to Eoin Reddan unless the Irish win the Wellington Test.

The Wasps scrumhalf is on his first trip to New Zealand, after missing the two Tests against the All Blacks in 2006 because of a groin injury.

Ireland came close in Hamilton and Auckland to ending their run of losses back then, coming unstuck only in the final 10 minutes of both those games.

Fresh from a Guinness Premiership-winning campaign, the 27-year-old halfback is targeting victory against a new-look New Zealand side this time around on Saturday.

"Performance is a measure of success, but there is no measure of success like winning," he said.

"That's why the trophies and the leagues are there in the first place; otherwise they would have a judging panel who could say who had played the best rugby at the end of the year, which wouldn't be any good.

"Everything is based on winning and losing, so for us to get a measure for where we're at it will be to win."

The Irish have never beaten New Zealand in 20 attempts.

Despite the transitional period the All Blacks are going through following the departure of a host of players - including world-class prop Carl Hayman, lock Chris Jack and fly-half Luke McAlister - since the World Cup, the public perception is that the All Blacks' winning trend is likely to continue.

Reddan agrees to a certain extent the pressure is off the Irish because of that "but at the same time you expect to win and put pressure on yourself".

"It's not about what anyone else thinks really. We've got a team of players who win things, and enjoy winning things - and that's what they judge themselves
on."

Ireland have been buoyed by Munster and Leinster's success in the Heineken Cup and Magners League, respectively.

That is reflected in Saturday's starting line-up, which includes seven members of the Munster pack and four of number eight Jamie Heaslip's Leinster team-mates
in the back line.

Reddan adds: "We've got a team full of individual belief, and it's about getting a collective belief now."

He is banking on his own winning experiences with Wasps too.

"As a scrumhalf, I think it's vital to play. I've played more than 30 competitive games this year - all of them high level and most of them must-win games - and as a halfback, it's key to your development as a player and to your form," he believes.

"Decision-making is a huge part of the game, and the only way you can really measure your decisions is by the outcome of the game.

"This is going to be a massive game of rugby.

"It's going to be tough, hard. We all love playing in those games; we're all used to them, and they are the most enjoyable ones."