Ireland v New Zealand: Chance to atone for World Cup exit

Ireland face the All Blacks under Friday night lights at the Aviva Stadium looking to drive home their position as the number one ranked team on the planet.

This is the meeting of teams number one and three in the world, although in reality, World champions South Africa are the real benchmark, as they are the side that invariably gets the job done every four years.

In saying that, Friday is an opportunity for Ireland to exact some revenge for their quarter-final defeat at last year's World Cup in France. 

It is almost 13 months now since Ireland came up short in their latest attempt to smash through the last-eight barrier at the World Cup, as they lost 28-24 to the All Blacks in Paris. 

Ireland were world number one then as well, but they fell just short against a New Zealand side who were then only the number four ranked team. That just goes to show that rankings do not mean much once it comes to knock-out rugby.

FEARLESS

They have won five of their last 10 Test matches against the Kiwis meaning the aura that used to exist around the black jersey is well and truly gone from an Irish perspective. 

In fact, it seems odd that Ireland are strong favourites for this, as you can get odds of better than 2/1 on a New Zealand victory.

The All Blacks front row had a right old battle with their English counterparts in Twickenham last Saturday, with them struggling early on, before gaining the upper hand once the bench arrived in the second half, and they will fancy their chances at doing a number on Ireland in this area on Friday night.

The news that Tadhg Furlong will miss out means that the Irish front five resources suddenly look weak. Finlay Bealham may be a decent replacement, but with Tom O’Toole on the bench, we are heading into downgrade territory here. 

On the other side of the scrum, Andrew Porter is one of the most penalised players in world rugby, due to his tendency to burrow in towards the opposition hooker, and New Zealand will definitely target him.

All Black loosehead Ethan de Groot did not feature against England, but is expected back this weekend, and should strengthen the New Zealand set piece further for the first hour or so.

The New Zealand performance against England last Saturday may not have been wonderful, but they did unveil their next superstar back-rower to the international stage.

MACHINE

22-year-old Chiefs blindside Wallace Sititi was a tackle machine in London, while he also managed to make more yards with ball in hand than anyone else. He has only played twenty senior games of rugby but has been fast-tracked into the famous black jersey.

Replacement lock Patrick Tuipulotu also caught the eye, as he barrelled into the game upon his introduction, while Tamaiti Williams and Tupou Vaa’I also got serious game-time, as head coach Scott Robertson rebuilds his side with the next World Cup in mind.

Neither of the Kiwi scrum halves used last weekend, Cortez Ratima and Cam Roigard, have yet to reach the 10-cap mark. Ireland will think they can win the half-back battle with Jamison Gibson-Park back having missed the two-match Series against the Springboks in the Summer.

Beauden Barrett missing out due to an HIA means they have fewer quivers to their bow at fly-half, even if Duncan McKenzie is more than capable of lighting it up in the famous black no. 10 shirt.

Jack Crowley was an unused sub in the quarter-final defeat a year ago, as Andy Farrell stuck with a hobbling Jonathan Sexton down the home stretch rather than trusting his young understudy. 

Friday presents the Munster out-half the opportunity to really stamp his authority on the Irish 10 jersey, which would be timely given the calls for Ciaran Frawley to be promoted following his match-winning display against the Springboks off the bench in July.