All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara said lessons could be taken from their losses in 2016 and 2018, but they were not an overriding consideration ahead of the game.
Perenara said Ireland had been a quality side for a long time, and it was always a physical contest against them. They had added keeping the ball alive to their repertoire and could score tries from all over the field as a result.
"They've got athletes in their environment and when they get ball in space it's tough to stop," he said.
Perenara said the rigours of the tour like no other had resulted in the All Blacks being the closest he had experienced during his career.
"It's been a unique time for us as a group. It's something that I think will build a foundation for us. I'm really grateful for the team we've had together both on and off the field," he said.
On the field, they were playing some good rugby and trying some new things. It was exciting to grow those things in their game for the future, he said.
Playing Ireland at home had always been a challenge they were aware of toward the end of their tour.
"We've known it's going to be one of those big games that we come into a big arena against a really, really good team, so it's something we're really looking forward to," he said.
Perenara said he was enjoying his rugby after his Japan experience. The Rugby Championship had been enjoyable, and he was able to employ many of the lessons, especially on the offensive side of the ball, that he had taken from Japan.
The competition at halfback was only getting stronger and, he was excited with the way he was playing and where his game could go.
Perenara said losses to Ireland were not a motivating factor for the weekend. There were lessons to be taken from the losses, but it wasn't a case of dwelling upon them.
The internal expectations in the team were far greater than what the public or media could impose on the side.
"The pressure that we hold, and the expectations we put on ourselves within this environment, surpass the expectations of the media, the critics, the fans by so much that win, lose or draw, our level of expectation to get better is still higher than that.
"It's the same each week because of how driven the environment is and how much competition there is to be excellent every moment for us," he said.