Everyone is expecting a mighty comeback from the All Blacks in Dublin. Nobody takes a loss harder or rebounds better.
But Ireland also has a lot to prove in the rematch with New Zealand in Dublin on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
After toppling the rugby world champions 40-29 on November 5 in Chicago, the Irish want to show they have the mental wherewithal to beat the All Blacks again, and not wait another 111 years.
"Everyone's talking about a potential New Zealand backlash, but from our point of view we have to back up what we did in Chicago," lock Devin Toner said on Tuesday.
"I don't think it would tarnish Chicago if we didn't get the right result. It would tarnish it if we didn't get the right performance.
"We'll be hugely disappointed if we go out and we lose because we don't perform to the best of our ability."
The mindset of the Irish is different now they know they can beat New Zealand, and not just run them close.
The All Blacks, Toner said, have lost their mental edge against the Irish. Now they know they can lose.
"It removes their mystique a little," Toner said.
"How we did so well in the last game was pressure: We built it through getting pressure off their lineout, getting up off their line, making them knock the ball on, and putting that little bit of doubt in their head.
"That doubt and that seed is sown now. They know we're a good team and we can get in their face."
Toner knows New Zealand will represent an entirely different proposition at Lansdowne Road, especially if stellar second-rowers Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock can be reunited.
The peerless Retallick is almost nailed-on to start after recovering from concussion, while Whitelock must prove his fitness following ankle trouble.
New Zealand's defeat in Chicago ended a record 18-Test, 15-month winning streak, but it got back to winning ways last weekend by crushing Italy by 10 tries to one.
