Ireland are taking the opportunity of touring New Zealand to immerse themselves in Māori culture, as they look to end their hoodoo at Eden Park on Saturday.
The visitors have never won a test on Kiwi soil, but are making sure they have all their bases covered before the series opener in Auckland.
Ireland last visited New Zealand in 2012, and were on the wrong end of a clean-sweep, including a 60-0 drubbing in the final test at Waikato Stadium.
However, the Irish are hoping further insight into where many of the All Blacks' players draw their inspiration from will help them realise the enormity of the task before them.
And no better to help them grasp that than of former Māori All Black and Munster icon Rua Tipoki.
The Bay of Plenty legend spent two plentiful seasons in Ireland, after eight years of Super Rugby, with the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders.
The centre was part of the Munster outfit that famously nearly beat the All Blacks in 2008, which featured fellow Kiwis Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi and Jeremy Manning in an 18-16 defeat.
Because of the New Zealand contingent, Tipoki and Howlett led the haka against the All Blacks, in an experience he described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
Tipoki gave the Ireland players a pep talk before their clash with the Māori All Blacks on Wednesday, but hooker Dan Sheenan admits the words have stuck with them as they prepare for the fixture on Saturday.
"It was great," he said. "To get an insight into his Maori culture and the Maori culture that's so strong around New Zealand.
"For a lot of the lads, it's new, it's my first time here but it's great to get that understanding of where their motivation comes from, where their family, their ancestors.
"But we're focused on ourselves going into this game. It's just good to have in the back of your head."
The Māori All Blacks ran out comfortable 32-17 winners against an experimental Irish team at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, but it will serve as a taste of what's to come for the tourists before the three-test series.
Sheenan expects the All Blacks to be firing on all cylinders as they seek to avenge their defeat to Ireland in Dublin last year.
"I'm sure they want to get a bit of revenge for winning over at the Aviva [Stadium] in November, but that's the same as any team," he said.
"They want to come back and win. We're expecting a reaction from them but our motivation is at a top level as well."
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