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Conor Murray believes New Zealand\u2019s loss is Ireland\u2019s gain as \u201cworld-class\u201d trio Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe bid to give their native country serious cause for regret.<\/p>\n
Centre Aki, scrum-half Gibson-Park and wing Lowe will face the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup for the first time after being selected to start Saturday\u2019s quarter-final showdown in Paris.<\/p>\n
The three New Zealand-born backs qualified for Ireland on residency grounds and have become key performers for Andy Farrell\u2019s side, including helping secure a landmark tour success over the Kiwis last summer.<\/p>\n
Murray expects their personal circumstances to provide an extra edge to their performances at Stade de France.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose three boys are so important to our squad,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they did, taking the chance to come over here and start a new life for themselves and prove themselves, all three of them have really done so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re three world-class players who we\u2019re really going to rely on heavily and have performed unbelievably well in this competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hasn\u2019t really been mentioned, the New Zealand thing. They\u2019re part of our Irish team now and they\u2019re really important to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s a part of them, that little bit extra that they want to get one over on their place of birth but they\u2019re fully part of our Irish squad now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gibson-Park and Lowe each represented the Maori All Blacks prior to their respective moves to Leinster, before winning maiden Ireland caps in 2020.<\/p>\n
Connacht player Aki made his Ireland debut in 2017 but missed Ireland\u2019s last-eight World Cup loss to New Zealand in 2019 through suspension.<\/p>\n
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The 33-year-old, who four years ago was sent off against Samoa \u2013 his parents\u2019 native country, has been one of the standout performers in France.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate saying it but he\u2019s been playing the rugby of his life,\u201d Murray, who lost his starting role to Gibson-Park, said of Aki.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can come across as a bit of a messer or jolly fella but behind the scenes Bundee is incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe level of detail, he\u2019s always on the computers and always trying to figure things out, so he\u2019s actually a smart fella, believe it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s tens of thousands of travelling fans celebrated each of their Pool B wins with rousing renditions of \u2018Zombie\u2019 by Irish band The Cranberries.<\/p>\n
\u201cBundee thinks they\u2019re singing \u2018Bundee, Bundee\u2019,\u201d Murray added. \u201cThey\u2019re definitely not!\u201d<\/p>\n
Munster number nine Murray has 111 Ireland caps, is a veteran of three British and Irish Lions tours and is playing at his fourth World Cup.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old, who will begin on the bench against the All Blacks, is preparing for the biggest game of his career as his country strive to reach a maiden semi-final.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt would mean everything,\u201d he said. \u201cOn the outside it\u2019s obviously a talking point that we\u2019ve never got there and within the group we think this is a different team and the capabilities are different.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis weekend is the biggest game I\u2019ve ever played and it\u2019s the same for everyone in the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get through that would be a huge, huge moment; a huge milestone.<\/p>\n
\u201cBreaking the quarter-final isn\u2019t something we talk about. But with the special group we have, it\u2019s something we\u2019re chasing and would absolutely love to do for ourselves and the fans here and at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t get away from how hard it\u2019s going to be, how difficult a task it is, but it would mean the world to all of us to get to that next stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murray has lined up 14 times against New Zealand for Ireland and the Lions.<\/p>\n
He has scored four tries across those outings, including in his nation\u2019s maiden success over the All Blacks in 2016 in Chicago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played against the All Blacks where we\u2019ve beaten them, but when we play (again) they\u2019re a completely different animal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started off my international career playing against New Zealand was really daunting and it still is, but did we really expect to beat them is questionable, whereas now there\u2019s definitely a bit more belief.\u201d<\/p>\n