By Conor Hogan
New Zealand v Ireland Saturday 7:35 am
In 105 years, Ireland and New Zealand have played each other in 22 test matches. The New Zealanders have won 21 of them, while Ireland managed only a solitary draw in 1973.
Since 2001, the aggregate score between the two sides has been 244-104 to New Zealand, an enormous gap considering this is possibly Ireland’s “golden generation” of rugby players.
The closest they got was a 34-23 loss in Auckland in 2006, where Ireland kept the All-Blacks close, until Troy Flavell scored a late try.
“It hasn’t happened to date but it’s going to happen some time before the world implodes. Let’s hope it happens sooner rather than later,” Brian O’Driscoll said recently.
Ireland have an ageing team. Brian O’ Driscoll is 31, Ronan O’Gara 33, David Wallace 33, and John Hayes is 36. Many of them won’t get many more chances to beat the All-Blacks so they should have plenty of motivation.
They’ll believe they have a chance, as this isn’t one of New Zealand’s greatest international sides (They lost three matches in last year’s Tri-Nations, finishing a distant second to South Africa).
As well as this, the All Blacks will be starting with three uncapped players (Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley, and Ben Franks) and will have another three on the bench.
Still, the hoodoo cannot be underestimated, and the fact that the bookies have put the All-Blacks as 1/8 favourites reflects how difficult it will be for Ireland.
Teams: New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Zac Guildford.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O’Gara, 9 Tomas O’Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mick O’Driscoll, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Dan Tuohy, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Geordan Murphy.
Odds:
New Zealand 1/8, Ireland 9/2, Draw 25/1
Joe Prediction:
New Zealand to win but it could be close. All Blacks by eight.
