Best knows his place is under threat – O’Connell

“Certainly from the players’ point of view, after having had so many good coaches, to keep them stimulated and excited and interested you really have to go and get the best for them again.”

Schmidt is due to name his team to face New Zealand this lunchtime after training, with Garry Ringrose, Rob Kearney and Kieran Marmion likely to be included if they come through the session.

Devin Toner could replace Iain Henderson in the second-row as Schmidt looks to shore up the lineout after a tough day at the office last weekend, while Dan Leavy is likely to start.

Rory Best is expected to remain as captain and, while he reckons his successor knows he is under pressure, O’Connell believes the skipper will perform.

“Rory’s strength isn’t eyecatching moments. It is getting over the ball at the breakdown, it’s scrummaging, it’s lineout – I know we struggled a bit last week,” he said.

“It’s his tackle, it’s his cool, calm experience under pressure and a little bit maybe like Jamie Heaslip at times it’s when you do watch the game four times you realise ‘that guy played amazing’.

“But I’d say he’s definitely in a challenge for his position and he’d be well aware of that.

“He obviously isn’t a young man, he’s had plenty of injuries and there are some great young hookers coming up. But I’d fancy him to have a crack off them.”