Lions coach Warren Gatland believes Irish players will have an advantage over Welsh ones when it comes to making an impression this season.
Wales do not play New Zealand this autumn, but Ireland are due to clash with the All Blacks twice in November.
They face the world champions in the USA in a one-off Test at the start of the month – as part of the All Blacks’ commercial bid to tap the American market – before hosting them as part of their autumn series.
Asked whether going up against the Lions’ opponents in selection season gives the Irish hopefuls an edge, Gatland said: “Absolutely, and twice as well – the game on November 5th in Chicago and then a couple of weeks later back in Dublin.
“So, there’s a big chance for them having two cracks at them.”
Wales were the last of the home nations to play New Zealand when – under Gatland’s charge – they were hammered 46-6 in June in the final match of the three-Test series.
They had been more competitive in the two opening two Tests, but still ended up losing by an 18-point margin in Auckland and then by 14 points in Wellington.
Ireland have a better recent record against the big southern hemisphere countries. They won their first Test on tour to South Africa this summer and then lost by just six points in the next two.
The last time Ireland played the All Blacks – in 2013 – they lost 24-22 after leading into injury time.
Four years ago, Gatland picked 15 Welshmen, compared to nine Irish, 10 English and three Scots for the successful tour to Australia.
He insisted that nationality had no bearing in 2013 and says the same will apply this time. Only performance will be his guide.
“The squad will be selected purely on merit. If that means 25 Englishmen and two Welshmen, then that will be the best squad.”
Nor is Gatland concerned that New Zealand plan to allow their All Black stars to beef up their provincial sides who clash with the Lions before the Tests series.
That was not the case with the Wallabies four years ago, but the hired hand from the WRU says this will be to the Lions’ advantage.
“When I heard that I thought that was the best thing because when I go back to 2009 we came into the first Test under-cooked. The South Africans had pulled their [Test] players out [of the provincial games] and we won those games too comfortably and thought we were in good shape. We were a bit under-cooked for that first Test.
“With the Lions, it’s all about the Test series,” added Gatland, recalling how they lost provincial games in 1997 in South Africa and in 2013 in Australia, but won the Test series, and in particular he mentioned the 14-12 defeat to the Brumbies in Canberra on the Tuesday before the first Test.
“We needed to protect the players before that first Test, and we probably didn’t put out as strong a side as we could have,” he admitted. “We could have put out a stronger side and won that game.
“In Australia, not all the games were as competitive as you would have liked but we’re definitely going to get that in New Zealand. So you’re not going to be underdone. You’re going to be playing against the best players. I think we’re going to be battle-hardened and ready for the first Test. I think the fact that you’re playing Super Rugby sides, the Maori All Blacks and playing the best players available is, I think, absolutely brilliant.”