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Ireland vs New Zealand Prediction & Betting Tips - Rugby World Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | in Rugby World Cup Predictions
Only eight sides remain in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and in the second quarter-final, we will see Ireland take on New Zealand on Saturday evening. Arguably the pick of the matches this weekend, this clash of the heavyweights features the world's number-one ranked team taking on the three-time world champions. The Shamrocks topped Pool B with 19 points, while the All Blacks were runners-up in Pool A behind France. The winner of this match will move on to the final four, where they will meet either Wales or Argentina.
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Ireland vs New Zealand Form
Ireland vs New Zealand Stats: Head to Head (H2H)
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16 Jul 2022 - Test Matchs
9 Jul 2022 - Test Matchs
2 Jul 2022 - Test Matchs
13 Nov 2021 - Test Matchs
19 Oct 2019 - Rugby World Cup
Ireland - New Zealand: Form Analysis
Ireland came into the tournament as one of the most fancied sides to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. They completed the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, dethroning the host nation France. The Shamrocks got their RWC campaign started in the best way possible. They demolished Romania in the opening week 82-8 and followed up with a 59-16 mauling of Tonga a week later. However, their undoubted biggest win of the competition came in their third match, where they overcame defending champions South Africa 13-8. Ireland secured top spot in the pool of death by beating Scotland 36-14 last weekend, which sent the Scots packing from the competition. They are now on a 17-match winning streak, which is by far the longest active winning streak of any tier-one nation.
While Ireland dominated the Northern Hemisphere earlier this year, New Zealand claimed the Southern Hemisphere’s title. They won the 2023 Rugby Championship for a third consecutive year, beating South Africa, Australia and Argentina. After being outplayed by France in the opening match of the tournament, many had written off the All Blacks, but the three-time champs had other ideas. They bounced back to beat Namibia 71-3 before trouncing Italy by a whopping 96-17 in their third match. Add to that a 73-0 win over Uruguay last week, and it is fair to say that the All Blacks are back to their dominant best. While Ireland may have the better recent record, New Zealand have dominated this fixture, winning 30 of the 36 meetings between these sides.
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Players list
Substitutes
Ireland & New Zealand Squad Analysis
Ireland will be without the services of James Ryan, who has been struggling with a hand injury and has not been passed fit for this crucial match. Robbie Henshaw has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury, which allows Jimmy O’Brien to return to the matchday 23. However, they also received some good news, with Mack Hansen and James Lowe set to return to the squad after missing out last week.
New Zealand have made a couple of surprising changes, with Leicester Fainga’anuku preferred to Mark Telea on the right wing. Scott Barrett has also been tossed back into the mix in place of Sam Whitelock. Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, and Ardie Savea will make up the loose trio for the first time since beating South Africa in week three. Cam Roigard has been dropped from the 23, with Finlay Christie being bumped back onto the bench instead.
Ireland - New Zealand Key Points
- Ireland have won all four of their RWC matches
- Ireland are on a 17-match winning streak
- Ireland have won the last two matches against New Zealand
- Ireland are the number one ranked team in the world
- New Zealand lost to France in the opening match of the competition, while Ireland beat the French in the Six Nations earlier this year.
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Our Ireland vs New Zealand Prediction
Ireland have been incredible over the last 18 months, and most would likely agree that this could be their year. They have turned out arguably the best Irish lineup we have ever seen, and with 17 wins in a row, it is hard to back against them extending their record. This could easily end up being the best match of the tournament to date, and we’re backing the Shamrocks to come out on top. Our Ireland vs New Zealand prediction: Ireland to win the match.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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