Can Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll inspire an upset against the All Blacks? © Getty Images

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Features: Will Irish eyes be smiling?

It was over ten years ago since an Ireland team last 'nilled' their opponents, so Saturday's 55-0 win over Canada in a rain-soaked Limerick was an encouraging showing in both defence and attack.

But, worryingly, the Canadians functioned little better than a Junior League side and offered their hosts the worst possible build-up heading into two super-charged Tests against New Zealand and Argentina.

Sure, to run in eight tries and kick-start the Declan Kidney era with a handsome victory at Thomond Park, the fortress of Munster, was pleasing for the new set-up and the players' post-match interviews rebounded with words like 'fantastic', 'great' and 'delighted.' But Kidney and his players know, deep down, that they were only fulfilling a fixture unfortunately. This game was a world away from the serious business of the autumn internationals and trying to maintain a top seeding for next month's 2011 Rugby World Cup draw.

Granted, Canada are ranked 15th in the world and have had provided Ireland with competitive games in the past - almost beating them in Markham in June 2000 - but their new coach Kieran Crowley has an arduous task, struggling for quality training time with the squad and the excess travel, working with a largely amateur player base and the professionals he has in his panel are playing a division or two behind their Irish counterparts.

It has to be noted that just twelve months ago, at the last World Cup, Ireland struggled to beat two lesser lights in Namibia and Georgia, so there seemed some validity in taking on Canada at home. However, this was no momentum-builder and the fact that supporters were leaving Thomond Park early in the second half, with Ireland 38-0 ahead, tells you all you need to know about this 'Test.' Canada plugged away but this was one just for the record books.

Given how they struggled in their opening World Cup games last year, due to a lack of match sharpness, you would have to be wary of Ireland's preparations for Saturday's clash with the All Blacks at Croke Park.

Brian O'Driscoll has spoken of how much he looks forward to training now in the Kidney-led set-up, that he is 'learning something every day' and that there is a genuine freshness and enthusiasm in this current Irish squad. Coming from a regime where 'mother hen' Eddie O'Sullivan was in charge, it would be hard not to be enthusiastic about getting pitch time with coaches of the calibre of Kidney, Alan Gaffney, Les Kiss and Gert Smal.

Talking the talk is fine. I just fear that Ireland are undercooked for these next two games and their hopes of a first ever win over the All Blacks are slim. The momentum was there in the summer, after cup wins for Munster (Heineken Cup) and Leinster (Magners League), and the pressure was off with interim coach Michael Bradley at the helm.

Ireland ventured Down Under and came out fighting in a rain-hit Wellington. It was a brave effort but once again they fell short against the Kiwis, losing 21-11. They went even closer against Australia, losing 18-12 and missing out on a prized away win.

Compare and contrast the fortunes of Ireland and New Zealand since then? Only one Test for the Irish (against Canada) and for the All Blacks, just the little matter of becoming Tri Nations champions and beating England (twice), South Africa (twice) and Australia (three times). There is no doubt that 21-year-old pair Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney (22) and Stephen Ferris (23) have added some youthful exuberance to Ireland's play recently and it is this mish-mash of youth and experience which I feel will ultimately make a success of Kidney's reign.

The Irish will rattle them at times and enjoy some dominance this weekend, but the leap from Canada to New Zealand in the space of seven days is too much. That said, if O'Driscoll does a 'Willie Anderson' and brings his troops right up into the eye of the haka, what use are my pre-match predictions?

Argentina have long made a mockery of rugby writers' pre-match musings. Nevertheless, with the Pumas down a number of their World Cup players and Ireland very keen for revenge, I have Saturday week's encounter chalked down as a narrow home win. Kidney said he is treating this autumn series as a mini World Cup pool. On that basis, Ireland should have enough in the tank and enough experience of their new calling system and team structures to beat Argentina for second in this 'imaginary' table and more importantly hold onto their IRB World Ranking of eighth.

That just leaves next Tuesday's 30th anniversary match between Munster and New Zealand at Thomond Park. Some have said this is just a hyped-up fixture for the hosts and tourists' second teams, with adidas and match sponsors Zurich the main people to benefit. Almost by the day, the number of people who were supposedly there to witness Munster's famous 1978 win over the All Blacks increases. This midweek offering, in spite of the lack of frontline players, will draw a capacity crowd to Thomond. 26,000 Willie Andersons, for sure.