What time and TV channel is Ireland v New Zealand on? Plus team news and what they're saying
The latest massive collision of the two big rivals is ready to explode as Ireland look to make it a hat-trick of wins over the All Blacks in Dublin at the start of the Autumn Series
Outside of the World Cup, they don't come much bigger than this one right now as the world's number ranked team - Ireland - square up with the third-best side New Zealand.
All five of Ireland's victories in their 37 Test matches with the All Blacks, stretching back to 1905, have come in the past eight years.
History was made in Soldier Field in 2016 when the relationship skewed in Ireland's favour and Andy Farrell, who was the defensive mastermind behind that famous success, has maintained a strong record against the All Blacks since succeeding Joe Schmidt as head coach after the 2019 World Cup.
READ MORE:Damian McKenzie says the All Blacks have no fear of Ireland ahead of big clash
It was an all-too-easy quarter-final loss in Tokyo that ended Schmidt's reign and, while Ireland went down fighting when the sides met at the same stage in France just over a year ago, the heartbreak was more acute because Farrell's men looked primed for a first-ever charge into the last four.
This is the first meeting of the teams since then and a massive rivalry has built up since Chicago - despite those two World Cup defeats, Ireland hold a 5-4 lead in this stellar head to head.
Ireland have won the last two Dublin encounters, too - and, after getting out of jail against England at Twickenham last weekend, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson needs a massive performance from his team to break that trend against the bookies' favourites.
Where is the game on?
The game takes place at the Aviva Stadium
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What time is kick-off?
The game kicks off at 8.10pm on Friday
What TV channel is it on and can I stream it?
It is being shown live on Virgin Media 1 and TNT Sports 1. The build-up begins on both channels at 7pm.
Betting Odds
Ireland 2/5 to win, New Zealand 2/1 to win; draw 19/1
Teams
Ireland: Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Iain Henderson Ulster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamie Osborne).
New Zealand: Will Jordan, Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (capt), Tupou Vaa’i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea.
Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.
Team news
Scott Robertson is forced to do without Beauden Barrett, his skilful and composed 33-year-old No.10, plus his first-choice hooker, Codie Taylor, as both go through return to play protocols after head injuries suffered in London.
Farrell is also without his best hooker, with Dan Sheehan rehabbing an ACL. Tadhg Furlong was also ruled out this week with a hamstring issue, and so Ireland are missing two of their first-choice front row. Finlay Bealham and Rónan Kelleher are strong replacements for those front row roles, although this is Kelleher's return from an ankle injury.
Ireland, at least, have a settled half-back partnership to call upon. Jack Crowley has had a tough start to the club season as Munster have struggled, but Jamison-Gibson Park has looked his imperious self with Leinster after missing the South Africa tour through injury.
New Zealand, meanwhile, are banking on Damian McKenzie to reign in his more cavalier instincts - the 29-year-old is a brilliant attacking force but his game management at No.10, particularly in the biggest games, has been under the microscope.
What they are saying
Andy Farrell on going with a tried and trusted team: “It is what it is. You can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat and throw people in if they’re not ready. It’s a big Test match. You like to co-ordinate on what’s in front of you and what you’ve got.
“We are not South Africa or England or New Zealand in terms of there being thousands of players out there that you can just throw in and see how it goes… that’s not the way it is here.
“Look after the here and now, the medium term is always around the corner and there’s always planning in and around all that and the long term can look after itself.”
Scott Robertson on the Ireland v NZ rivalry: "Yeah, I think it is a great narrative, a great story. It's a great narrative, you know, like two countries that are similar in lots of ways - small island off a big island.
"We enjoy each other's company but these is a fierce rivalry on the field, a lot of respect, two smart teams that go at it. They play a good style. I think there is a big part of the storyline, that little bit of history recently, you know, they've had a bit of success in our backyard and we've had some as well.
Ireland lock Joe McCarthy on getting over the World Cup loss: "You obviously do think back to it a bit. It was such a massive game and you want to put your best foot forward and make a bit of history with Ireland. But it's something that reminds you where you need to be for those games.
"But the beast keeps rolling on in rugby - you keep going to the next thing and don't look too far back. It is something that plays on your mind - at that sort of level you have to be at your best in those big games or you won't come away with the win.
"It's awesome. A late kick-off on Friday night, I'm sure it'll be absolutely brilliant. Everyone will be building up to it by the time we get to the stadium. I love a late Friday night game. You have the whole day to chill out and get ready."
NZ's try machine Will Jordan on beating Ireland: "For us, we want to be the best team in the world. Ireland are currently number one in the rankings and at home it's going to be a big challenge.
"This northern tour is a big opportunity for us to test where we're at against the best teams - and it doesn't get any bigger than that on Friday against an Ireland side that's been pretty tough to beat over the previous couple of years."
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