Ireland vs New Zealand Preview & Tips - Ireland to stun New Zealand in Chicago once again?
- New Zealand have won their last two matches against Ireland
- The All Blacks have won their last two Tests
- Preview, stats & head to head
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Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland against New Zealand (Getty Images)
- Ireland vs New Zealand Preview & Tips
- Head To Head
- Ireland Form
- New Zealand Form
Ireland vs New Zealand Preview & Tips
Ireland are looking to build on a three-game winning run that has helped to conceal a patchy run in recent years for the men in green.
New Zealand beat Australia 28-14 in their last match as they shut the book on the 2025 Rugby Championship with a pair of wins over the Aussies.
- New Zealand have won their last two matches against Ireland by between 1-12 points
- The last four matches involving the sides has seen the winning margin stand at between 1-12 points
Head To Head
In their last 10 meetings, Ireland have won five times with the All Blacks winning the other five.
Ireland Form
Ireland may arrive for this one on the back of a three-game winning run and nine wins in their last 10, but they have been anything but perfect of late.
Wins over second-tier rugby nation Italy and then minnows like Georgia and Portugal have gone some way to papering over the cracks, but the scars of their 42-27 loss to France back in March will still be evident. In that game, they were completely outplayed by a French side that simply wanted it more, with their intensity blowing Ireland away.
Prior to this, they had secured a 27-18 win over Wales in a terrible performance that could have seen the Irish lose to their floundering opponents. In truth, this Irish side have been struggling for momentum for some time, and their clash with New Zealand may not be the blockbuster, top-of-the-world type of clash that it is being billed as.
Both sides have got their issues. For Ireland, age is becoming a real worry, with a range of influential players edging towards the end of their international careers. I predict that this match will only serve to highlight the inefficiencies in this Irish side and the lack of young talent being promoted.
New Zealand Form
New Zealand struggled to find their best form across the Rugby Championship, with their trio of wins over an under-strength French side in July unable to spur them onto the trophy in the subsequent tournament.
Their opening match saw them dispatch Argentina 41-24, but they were then stunned in a 29-23 loss to their opponents. A similar pattern emerged against South Africa as New Zealand won the first game before losing the second. However, this time, their loss was a true humiliation, with the Springboks securing a record 43-10 win over the All Blacks.
A pair of wins over an Australian side that ran out of steam as the tournament wore on was not enough for the All Blacks to reclaim the Rugby Championship crown in a disappointing campaign for the side.
That feeling of invincibility that New Zealand once had is non-existent now, with South Africa boasting that feeling of near-invincibility. The All Blacks will really be tested across their November tour with games against Scotland, England and Wales to come. While I back Ireland to give New Zealand a real game, I question whether the two out-of-sorts sides will serve up the classic they once did.
Verdict
I am backing New Zealand to battle to a win by 1-12 points against Ireland as they begin their November tour with a win.
New Zealand 1-12
Winning Margin
@150.00 - 1 Unit
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