Tricks.

Ireland face New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday and come into the game as massive underdogs following a disappointing 2019.

The All Blacks also haven’t been at their brilliant best, but seem to be in a lot better shape than Ireland right now. So what is it? Have Ireland been holding back so as to not show their hand?

I think that’s bollox, to be honest, but I do think Ireland have it in them to throw come out with something on Saturday we haven’t seen before. Yes, Ireland have been trying new things in the last 12 months, but at the end of the day, their form just hasn’t been where it should be.

But they have shown in the past that they can pull a few tricks out of their sleeves when it really matters. Look at CJ Stander’s try against England at Twickenham and Stockdale’s against the All Blacks at the Aviva last year.

Did they really play all that great against Scotland the week before during that Six Nations campaign? What about Wales the week before that? Exactly. Did they really play all that well against Argentina the week before they last defeated the All Blacks?

“I’ve no doubt they’ll [New Zealand] have something we haven’t seen before and we’ll have something they haven’t seen before.” Ireland coach Simon Easterby this morning

But do Ireland really have some tricks planned for New Zealand on Saturday? According to Cian Healy, yes they do.

“Not telling you, they’re up our sleeves,” Healy said when asked about any potential tricks this weekend.

We’ve got some new stuff that we haven’t done before and it’s up to them to figure it out.