From a defence coach's perspective, Les Kiss's first Test rugby experience with Ireland was impossible to beat.

Canada were held to nil at Thomond Park in Limerick last weekend as the Irish opened their autumn program with a 55-point victory.

However, the former Australian rugby league international realised a more accurate gauge on his systems and the Irish team's ability to implement them plays out at Croke Park on Saturday (0415 Sunday AEDT).

Kiss has had plenty of time to analyse the All Blacks' strengths during a coaching career that saw him attached to the Springboks in 2001 before spending six Super rugby seasons at the NSW Waratahs.

But for all that in-depth knowledge of New Zealand's elite player base, Kiss acknowledged the All Blacks pose a myriad of threats as they seek to keep their grand slam bid on track against a team they have never experienced defeat against.

"I've seen a lot of the combinations they're going to throw at us. Has it helped? I'm not sure," he said.

"When you get together with a new team, the defence, the way it forms together is different," said Kiss who joined new head coach Declan Kidney's staff in September.

"The boys put in a solid effort last week but obviously this will be a bigger test for us.

"They (New Zealand) aren't easy to analyse, because you have to look at so many players. We've been working on our systems because you need to rely on team defence, to understand what they can throw at you."

Like any international team, video reviews indicated there was a degree of sameness built into the All Blacks' game plan. But that made them no easier to combat.

"They have repetition in how they play things, it's the options they build off it that are harder to predict," said Kiss, adding theory and whiteboard analysis had limited value.

"The reality is you (as a coach) can only cover so much - the rest of it comes from the will of your group to be able to cover those options, and to be able to cover the surprises."

Kiss said Ireland's analysis of the All Blacks cranked up during the Tri-Nations campaign while last weekend's 32-6 victory over Scotland produced further evidence of an astute use of the boot.

Each of the All Blacks quartet of tries at Murrayfield had a kicking element and Kiss expected the Irish back three to be particularly targeted now Daniel Carter will start at five-eighth for the first time on tour.

The return of fullback Mils Muliaina offers a kicking option lacking in the Tests against Australia and Scotland.

"The aerial game is something they do rely on," he said.

"They create their pressure through that type of game, and try to make a situation where errors come from the opposition. They're very good at that, our game is about trying to turn that pressure."

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