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The first test between Ireland and New Zealand kicks off tomorrow morning at 8.05am in Eden Park. After an inexperienced Irish side fell to a defeat at the hands of the Maori All Blacks on Wednesday, Andy Farrell has selected an experienced Irish rugby starting XV for Saturday's game.
With three wins in their last five games against New Zealand, Ireland will know what it takes to beat the southern hemisphere outfit, but they have never won on the Kiwis' home turf before.
Speaking on The Build-Up in association with Ladbrokes, Stephen Ferris was not optimistic about Ireland's chances at getting series win.
The former Ulster and Ireland back-row said:
"Everybody now is expecting Ireland to go to New Zealand and get a series win. Why? Because we've beat them last autumn and everybody forgets what it took us nearly 100 years to actually win against the All Blacks and yeah it's going to be very tough.
"Watching a lot of the super rugby, it was the Blue versus the Crusaders in that final. Chiefs were in another semifinal along with I think it was the Brumbies. Three New Zealand sides in the last four, very very strong, they're playing a really good brand of rugby.
Irish Rugby: Stephen Ferris on Ireland's chances
Ferris also spoke about the differences he expects to see in this test series compared to the game in the Aviva stadium last year.
"Offensively, like night and day compared to what New Zealand were like back last autumn. The time and space they gave Ireland on the ball. I don't think you're going to see a lot of this free flowing attack that we've all been witnessing from Ireland over the last couple of seasons. I just don't think it's going to happen down there.
"I think Ireland will definitely give them a run for their money and cause them problems at times, but it's really difficult to see Ireland going away from home and beating argueably the best team in the world. "
After a long and gruelling season for the majority of the Irish rugby side, Stephen Ferris expects Ireland to be in similar shape as the All Blacks were in November.
"Their players are ready and raring to go. Last autumn their coming to the end of their season, their busted, some might say they were already thinking about their holidays, they could have been out for a few nights on the booze. Just using the tour as a de-stresser after a long season. Now the shoes on the other foot. Ireland are off the back of a very long season, a lot of tired players, lot of fatigue kicking in and then you've to jump on a long haul flight and get out there and play five really tough matches with what a squad of 40 lads.
"It's going to be very interesting to see how it plans out, I think Ireland will hang in there for bits of the games, but ultimately I can't see them going and getting a series win. If they can win one test match in New Zealand, I think that would be very very positive."
Should Ireland find a first win on New Zealand turf this summer, it will show the remarkable rise in Irish rugby over the eyars after suffering some heavy defeats at the hands of the All Blacks over recent years.
SEE ALSO: Looking Back At Ireland's Near Misses In New Zealand
