All Blacks face their four-yearly exam
Talk about DNA in rugby has become a common theme in recent times, and whichever way Sunday's (NZT) Rugby World Cup quarterfinal goes, the deoxyribonucleic acid of one team or the other is likely to be mentioned again.
For New Zealand, it is about playing some of the most consistent attacking rugby unleashed on the planet across the entirety of its playing the game.
Ireland's defining quality has been the strength of its defence. When an Irish side has its dander up, its go-to option is sheer, bloody-minded, grass-high tackling. Remember Munster in 1978?
Both facets represent all the ingredients required for a stunning contest between two styles, but it's also worth acknowledging the All Blacks are not bad at defending either; only four tries have been scored against them in the Cup so far, while the Ireland side is handy when it decides to run the ball.
All Black wing Leicester Fainga’anuku gets an unlikely chance - World Rugby pic
Crucial to New Zealand's success will be their discipline. None should know that better than prop Ethan de Groot. Restored after completing the World Rugby tackle programme, his situation should be the most apparent reminder to his teammates of the need to avoid any time at all on the sideline.
QUESTIONS
Is second five-eighths Bundee Aki a better player than Jordie Barrett in the midfield?
Can flanker Sam Cane unsettle Josh van der Flier at the breakdown?
Will de Groot be able to deal with Tadhg Furlong in the scrums?
Should wing Leicester Fainga'anuku be able to handle Mack Hansen?
Will Ireland be allowed to continue benefiting from blocking runners impeding defensive backlines, as was the case in James Lowe's first try against Scotland last week? (The fact that referees let this happen so consistently is a blight on the game's administration).
What will happen when players at the breakdown rest their hands on the ground ahead of their jackal attempts?
Can blindside flanker Shannon Frizell play against Peter O'Mahony like he did against South Africa at Mt Smart Stadium?
Is halfback Aaron Smith looking to shut down Jamison Gibson-Park's sniping ability around rucks?
And last but not least, can first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga steal rival Johnny Sexton's thunder by performing at his best?
Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier attempts to beat Springbok Damian de Allende - World Rugby pic
SOME STATISTICS
Of the teams in the top eight, New Zealand has the second-most carries behind Fiji with 134.8, compared to Fiji's 139.5. The All Blacks have gained the most metres (752.5), made the most line breaks (16.0), and beaten the most defenders with 39.0 per game.
Their ruck speed is the second-fastest (3.43s), behind Argentina (3.37s), and they enjoy the highest percentage of plays more than 30 metres away from their previous ruck (14%).
Of concern to Ireland is that they have won the second-fewest scrums, and their success rate is 90 per cent. They average losing three lineouts a game, and their lineout functions at an 81 per cent rate.
New Zealand has a 98 per cent lineout success – the best of the quarterfinalists. They have lost only one lineout in the tournament.
Ireland is efficient in winning the most turnovers per game (5.3) and averages less than 10 penalties per game (9.3).
The All Blacks average the most points (63.3) and tries (9.5) at the tournament, and they are their most efficient in the second quarter when their average of 17.8 points is the best of all teams.
While Ireland is most successful with 15 entries per game into the opposition's 22m, the All Blacks are second on 14.8, but the All Blacks have the highest points per visit of any team at 4.2.
Ireland has proven efficient in set-piece play. During the tour of New Zealand last year, seven of their nine tries were from the set-piece, five from lineouts and two from scrums.
THE REFEREE
It was lamentable and an insult that New Zealand media outlets dredged irrelevant comments after Wayne Barnes was appointed to referee the game. Yes, Barnes was at the helm of the All Blacks' 2007 quarterfinal exit from the World Cup, but that was 14 years ago. Fans need to get over it.
Since then, Barnes has become the most experienced referee in the world – Sunday's game will be his 110th Test. He didn't achieve that by being a poor referee.
He has refereed both teams during pool play in the tournament and the All Blacks 24 times in his career and for the sixth time at a Rugby World Cup. And just for good measure, he has also refereed Ireland 24 times since 2007 and four times at a World Cup.
It shapes as an outstanding rugby contest, the pinnacle of four years of build-up. And if it proves a better game than a World Cup final should be in two weeks, then the blame can be laid squarely at the feet of World Rugby.
An excellent team will lose on Sunday; the hope has to be that it is after a rattling good game of rugby that presents a triumph of skill over endeavour.
If it is not to be the All Blacks, they need to produce 80 minutes of cohesive, error-free and complete rugby.