IT is unusual to see Declan Kidney having to explain away a heavy home defeat.

During his time with Munster, failure generally arrived with the word 'gallant' attached. Northampton 2000, Stade Francais 2001 and Leicester 2002 were all reverses where Munster performed heroically against the odds and analysis of the loss to Llanelli in 2007 had to be qualified by the fact that it took place on foreign soil.

Saturday's defeat to New Zealand was in a different category entirely. The All Blacks won this game pulling up and that was the truly worrying aspect, if they can be so comfortably superior without getting out of third gear, what would they have done to Ireland if they had felt genuinely threatened?

It has put the week in perspective. Tomorrow's Munster-All Blacks showdown in Limerick should be a memorable occasion but it is essentially just an Adidas-generated exhibition match, the meaningful stuff takes place next Saturday.

Assumption

The world rankings system makes 'Ulysses' seem like 'The Da Vinci Code' but the bottom line is if Ireland lose to Argentina in Croke Park next weekend we are sunk, on the safe assumption that Scotland beat Canada. A draw would keep Ireland ahead of the Scots and history dictates that it will go down to the wire against the Pumas on Saturday.

There is considerable scope for improvement. While Ireland battled gamely until the game-turning concession of a penalty try just before half time, there were failings to their game that could not be explained away by saying that New Zealand were simply too good.

Primarily, the lineout and first-up tackles. Kidney made the point afterwards that the All Blacks dominated field position and possession and, in those circumstances, eventually something was bound to give. True, but set piece possession is something that any team, no matter how outmatched, can control. The previous weekend in Thomond Park, Canada, despite producing a team that would do well to make the play-offs in the AIB League, managed to win all their own lineout ball against a side that opened them 55-0.

It is a vital part of the game. Wales and Scotland both had opportunities to down world champions South Africa over the past two weekends but were let down by malfunctioning lineouts when in search of the winning score.

Ireland's lineout worked very smoothly against Canada, in horrendous conditions, but was on the jelly side of shaky against New Zealand. With the ELV rule changes, teams can pack their defensive line and contest in two or three areas at once, and New Zealand targeted Ireland's throw successfully.

Ball was won under pressure or slapped down to Tomas O'Leary who coped admirably in the circumstances. The scrum-half also had to deal with a back-peddling scrum but that was more expected, given the power of the New Zealand front five.

Gert Smal has been showered with praise since he took on the role of forwards coach. This is the week where he earns those plaudits, as lineout possession is central to Ireland's chances against Argentina.

Likewise defence coach Les Kiss. Ireland were facing the most potent back line in world rugby but there were still tackles that should have been made, and weren't.

Luke Fitzgerald had a big game, and was probably Ireland's most potent gap-finder, but the youngster was still brushed aside far too easily on a couple of occasions. To his credit, he balanced that with a couple of shuddering hits and he is a player that looks made for this level of rugby.

Ronan O'Gara was targeted by the All Blacks and had a mixed day at the office. His penalty kick from just inside the halfway line was fantastic and his passing was up to the mark, but too many of his kicks out of hand went straight to New Zealanders.

Which, it transpired, was part of the All Blacks gameplan.

"I thought the boys did great to put so much pressure on O'Gara, and it showed in the way he kicked," said New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina afterwards. We are unaccustomed to see O'Gara underperform and it is safe to expect a riposte next weekend.

With the game tied at 3-3 approaching half time, the atmosphere was crackling and there was genuine belief that a first victory over New Zealand in 103 years was on the cards, particularly after Dan Carter missed a couple of sitters. Spearheaded by Alan Quinlan and Donncha O'Callaghan, the Irish pack was tormenting New Zealand at the breakdown and winning turnovers in the process. Carter was muted in the pivotal role and his captain Richie McCaw was being outshone by David Wallace.

Then came the penalty try. Tommy Bowe covered back to prevent McCaw gathering a kick through but was sin-binned for batting the ball away when it was still in play. New Zealand had the boost they needed and, from that point on, the result was never in doubt. Further tries from Ma'a Nonu and Brad Thorn completely punctured the second-half atmosphere and, when you consider the marginal calls that denied them further scores from Sitiveni Sivivatu and Ali Williams, Ireland were fortunate to keep the margin to 19 points.

The difference between the sides was best emphasised when the ball was released to the backs. New Zealand ran the ball effortlessly, hitting from depth and giving passes in the right area at the right time. Ireland looked laboured by comparison, placed under pressure by the All Blacks defence, and frequently forced to cut back in and kill momentum. New Zealand play rugby at a different level, every scenario is analysed and adapted accordingly. If a player realises he is not needed in a ruck he moves out to where his services can be put to the best use, while the All Blacks running off the ball was always effected with the purpose of hurting the Irish.

Kidney's team selection tomorrow should be informative as to where he believes Ireland fell down. Jerry Flannery may well come in for Rory Best at hooker and Keith Earls or Rob Kearney could be asked to slot in for Girvan Dempsey at 15, which may bring Shane Horgan back into the equation.

It is a big week for Kidney and a pressure situation he is unaccustomed to. However, he is well equipped to handle it and his boldest call on Saturday, the selection of O'Leary at scrum-half, paid off handsomely.

And it was the international rookie who summed up the mood best after Saturday's defeat.

"We didn't play any rugby and we have to learn what went wrong in time for Argentina, which has become a massive game now.

"I expected more from us. We're definitely capable of much better. We need to produce."

IRELAND -- G Dempsey (K Earls 71); T Bowe (yc 40-50), B O'Driscoll (capt), L Fitzgerald (P Wallace 75), R Kearney; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, R Best (J Flannery 58), J Hayes (T Buckley 78), D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (S Ferris 62), A Quinlan, D Wallace (S Jennings 78), J Heaslip.

NEW ZEALAND -- M Muliaina; J Rokocoko (S Donald 76), C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan (P Weepu 61); T Woodcock (yc 43-53; N Tialata 68), K Mealamu (C Flynn 66), N Tialata (J Afoa 45), B Thorn, A Williams, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), R So'ailo (K Read 71),

REF -- M Lawrence (SA)