"To have Rob back training and fit, he obviously had an amazing Six Nations for us and we were looking forward to getting him going from week one.
"It's a shame he pulled up with an injury, but he's charging around training again today. It creates a healthy dilemma for us as coaches and some good discussions."
Goodman is also well placed to understand the significance of playing the All Blacks at at their talsimanic Auckland stadium on Saturday. The New Zealand born coach says, however, that the focus in the Ireland camp is on their own preparation.
"It's special, any time to play New Zealand and to play at Eden Park. We know the history of the stadium and it's probably the home of New Zealand rugby," he replied.
"We're really excited about being here and having the opportunity to go and put our best foot forward and to go and put a performance out there that we're going to be really proud of.
"So it's been about preparation, the mentality building every day. I know there's a big narrative around the streak, but for us it's around day-to-day preparation and making sure we get to a place where we can go and put our game on New Zealand at Eden Park."
