Ireland v All Blacks: Five key battles for the Autumn Series encounter at the Aviva Stadium
With both Ireland and New Zealand so evenly matched, individual head to head contests will be pivotal for the Friday night clash and here we take a look at several of the most important ones
Ireland and New Zealand games have become about the small margins as the rivalry has built and built over the last eight years.
Because of that, the head to heads have become crucial and there are plenty of mouth-watering collisions worth keeping an eye on tonight.
Here are five of the big clashes that can make or break the night for the teams and their supporters.
JACK CROWLEY V DAMIAN MCKENZIE
It hasn't been the easiest start to the season for Crowley given Munster's struggles but Andy Farrell says he has credit in the bank, thus keeping him ahead of the other out-half competition. McKenzie, meanwhile, only starts because of Beauden Barrett's head injury last weekend and while he is a dangerous attacking threat, the Chiefs man's game management remains suspect.
TAMAITI WILLIAMS V FINLAY BEALHAM
Connacht's Bealham gets another chance to shine due to Tadhg Furlong's hamstring injury - the tighthead normally grasps any such opportunity.
He's in a front row braced for a big All Blacks scrum reaction after underperforming against England. This is an eighth start in 17 Test games for Crusaders loosehead Williams. He'll look to repay the decision to keep him in at Ethan De Groot's expense.
TADHG BEIRNE V WALLACE SITITI
Munster's new captain Beirne has been getting to grips with his new role but at Test level it's no surprise the McCarthy-Ryan-Beirne 4-5-6 combo that was so effective against South Africa last time out stays in place.
The Kildare man will be on high alert against 22-year-old Sititi, the young powerhouse seen as the new Ardie Savea who threw a breath taking off-load for NZ's opening try last week.
The Irish Mirror has a new WhatsApp rugby news and top stories service. Sign up here to join the group. You can leave the group at any time.
ARDIE SAVEA V CAELAN DORIS
Of course the 'old' Ardie Savea is still in situ and still a force of nature for the All Blacks. He remains a totemic figure and is looking to improve a five losses in eight games record against Ireland. Doris, the 26-year-old new Ireland skipper, has been compared to Savea in the past. But he says he underperformed in the WC quarter-final so needs a big response here.
HUGO KEENAN V WILL JORDAN
Two full-backs at the peak of their powers will lead the counter-attacks for both sides. Jordan, 29, admitted recently that he is most comfortable wearing the No.15 jersey and the try machine made it 36 tries in 38 Tests last week. Keenan has come back from his Olympic Sevens sojourn looking as good as ever and will relish the challenge of out-shining his opposite number.
Sign up for the latest sport news from our Irish Mirror sport newsletter here and receive special updates on the Ireland rugby team during the November internationals.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
