Ireland v New Zealand team news, match referee, head-to-head record, start time, betting odds and more for Rugby World Cup clash
Ireland take on New Zealand in a mega Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday night.
The match takes place at the Stade de France in Paris, where Ireland defeated both defending champions South Africa and Scotland in recent weeks.
But there can be no room for error here as the losing team will be heading home on an airplane and will have to wait another four years for another shot at World Cup glory.
Andy Farrell has named the same team that started last weekend's victory over Scotland, with Mack Hansen and James Lowe deemed fit to be involved from the start.
James Ryan misses the game due to a hand injury, while Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw also miss out due to injury issues.
Meanwhile, New Zealand wing Mark Telea has been dropped for the game due to a breach of team protocol. It is understood that he broke a curfew during the week.
Here's all the details for the match:
Teams
Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Henderson, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, McCarthy, Conan, Murray, Crowley, O'Brien.
New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Fainga'anuku; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane, Savea.
Replacements: Coles, Williams, Newell, Whitelock, Papali'i, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.
Who is the referee?
English referee Wayne Barnes will be the man in charge and will be assisted by Matthew Carley and Christophe Ridley, with Tom Foley the TMO, who are all also from England.
Ireland v New Zealand head to head record
New Zealand have won 30 of the 36 games against the countries, including 27 of the first 28 meetings, with the other of those games ending in a draw.
Ireland's first win over the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016, 111 years after the first meeting. They also defeated them twice during last summer's New Zealand tour to win the series 2-1.
But the All Blacks beat Ireland 46-14 at the quarter-final stage of the last World Cup in 2019.
Kick-off time
The action kicks off at 8pm Irish time, which is 9pm in Paris.
TV and stream information
Virgin Media 1 and the Virgin Media Player will show the game live in the Republic of Ireland, while ITV 1 and the ITV Player will show the action in the UK.
Betting odds
Ireland win: 8/11
New Zealand win: 13/10
Draw: 17/1
Quotes corner
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: “It’s another big game in front of us.
“At this stage, it’s all about preparation and recovery and making sure there’s an ownership of the plan that you’re going to try and apply on the opposition at the weekend.
“We immerse ourselves with that and that’s the only way it should be. Of course things start to creep in, but we’ve tools and experience to combat all that.
“The main part is to remember that we’re a bloody good team that play together and, when we do that, you’re not on your own, so you can get away from those type of thoughts.”
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton: “I haven’t thought once about what personally the game means.
“It’s all about the team and progressing in the competition, that’s all we’re thinking about.
“I’ve had some great battles with New Zealand over the years with Ireland and the (British and Irish) Lions and what you learn is that every game is as tough as the last, no matter what the result.
“And that’s what we’re preparing for: the toughest game we’ve ever faced and we’re trying to put ourselves in the frame of mind that we’re going to be ready for it.”
New Zealand head coach Ian Foster: “Look, Ireland came into the World Cup last time as number ones, didn’t they, so they’ve had different journeys.
“But the past is the past. I wouldn’t say it’s a newer Irish team but it’s an Irish team on a mission. It’s an All Black team on a mission.
“I’ll leave it to you to talk about the past and what that means and the burdens people carry.
“But at the end of the day, we all carry burdens going into these sorts of games. The key thing is to clear your head and just play. That’s the state we want to be in.”
