Ireland and All Blacks primed for Chicago reunion

Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v New Zealand

Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago Date: Saturday, 1 November Kick-off: 20:10 GMT

Coverage: Live commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, unrecorded matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website & app

As they return to nan segment of 1 of their astir celebrated wins, Ireland find themselves pinch a constituent to prove.

Nine years ago, they were mostly written disconnected earlier they faced nan All Blacks successful a Chicago blockbuster astatine Soldier Field.

It was hardly surprising. New Zealand were world champions and successful nan midst of an 18-game winning streak, while they boasted 27 victories and a tie from 28 erstwhile meetings pinch nan Irish.

Reflecting connected that week 9 years on, hooker Codie Taylor this week admitted nan All Blacks sewage "caught up" successful nan hubbub created by nan Chicago Cubs' first shot World Series triumph successful 108 years.

On nan different side, Ireland knuckled down and group astir lifting their ain century-long hoodoo.

The extremity consequence was a first triumph complete nan All Blacks aft 111 years of trying, a time that transformed nan trajectory of Irish rugby and ignited an aggravated and captivating rivalry betwixt nan sides.

While beating nan All Blacks this play would not beryllium arsenic seismic arsenic it was successful 2016, it would beryllium nan cleanable measurement for Ireland to scoff astatine those who position them arsenic a fading force.

Andy Farrell, defence coach nether Joe Schmidt successful 2016, has achieved a awesome woody arsenic Ireland boss, not slightest nan 2022 bid triumph connected New Zealand ungraded that added much occurrence to a burgeoning rivalry.

But, having returned to his time occupation aft his sabbatical pinch nan British and Irish Lions, Farrell has been irked by suggestions that he presides complete an ageing and undercooked Irish squad heading into an autumn run that besides includes location matches against Japan, Australia and South Africa.

However, location is nary doubting that Ireland are astatine an absorbing juncture 2 years retired from nan World Cup successful Australia.

In Farrell's absence, they relinquished nan Six Nations title aft a thumping and sobering location conclusion by France.

Farrell brought a grounds Irish contingent connected nan Lions tour, nan fallout from which has near respective players pinch only 1 United Rugby Championship crippled nether their loop this season.

Ireland's preparations person not been helped by injuries to cardinal players, too, pinch regular starters Hugo Keenan, Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen among those unavailable.

With Ireland's frontline broadside having not played together since nan Six Nations triumph complete Italy successful March, Farrell has been moving pinch his squad successful Chicago since 21 October.

And, having scrutinised his players complete nan past 10 days, he has opted to capable his squad pinch shape players.

Jack Crowley, who mislaid nan fly-half jersey to Sam Prendergast a twelvemonth ago, is restored connected nan backmost of a beardown commencement to nan play pinch Munster, while Stuart McCloskey and Tommy O'Brien are deserved starters astatine wrong centre and correct wing.

In nan pack, Farrell has fixed Ryan Baird different chance to beryllium he tin beryllium a regular back-row starter. Baird was nan starting six successful this year's Six Nations opener against England, but mislaid his spot for nan remainder of nan tournament.

Farrell has besides reminded his much knowledgeable players of nan younker coming done by selecting Paddy McCarthy connected nan bench.

Earlier this week, Farrell said nan 22-year-old prop has been connected his radar since impressing for nan under-20s successful a training convention against nan elder broadside a mates of years agone and, while he is only 5 weeks removed from his first Leinster start, Farrell intelligibly feels he is fresh to sample nan highest level.

With Caelan Doris connected nan chair aft recovering from enarthrosis surgery, Farrell has entrusted Dan Sheehan pinch nan captaincy.

The 27-year-old hooker led Ireland against Wales successful this year's Six Nations and skippered nan Lions against Western Force successful June, winning some games.

Sheehan said nan existent group replicating nan 2016 triumph would beryllium "right up there" successful this squad's database of accomplishments.

"That 2016 moment, we've talked astir it a bit, that was a spot of a life infinitesimal for each Irish sports fan," he said.

"Massive memories, everyone has a representation of wherever they were and really typical that time was.

"Obviously we've had immoderate large battles against New Zealand complete nan years since then, truthful I deliberation everyone's beautiful buzzing to almost consciousness a portion of that time successful 2016 and for nan rematch."

New Zealand are targeting a 3rd successive triumph complete Ireland - aft edging an unforgettable 2023 World Cup quarter-final successful Paris earlier claiming a deserved 23-13 triumph successful Dublin past year.

The All Blacks are surely much battle-hardened than Ireland, pinch a Test bid against France and nan Rugby Championship resulting successful them playing 9 times since nan commencement of July.

New Zealand person vanished 2nd to South Africa successful nan Rugby Championship complete nan past 2 years and, while caput coach Scott Robertson has his detractors, they stay a devastating counter-attacking squad packed pinch game-breaking talent, moreover if Leinster-bound Rieko Ioane's omission robs america of an absorbing subplot.

Two-time World Rugby Player of nan Year Beauden Barrett's return astatine fly-half is simply a sizeable boost for Robertson, while Ardie Savea has been outstanding against Ireland successful nan past.

And successful Will Jordan nan All Blacks person 1 of nan game's deadliest finishers. The 27-year-old usually delivers against Ireland, too, pinch 5 of his 43 Test tries coming against Farrell's side.

Ireland person a constituent to prove. New Zealand person a celebrated conclusion to avenge. With nan United States group to big nan World Cup successful 2031, location is nary bad clip to drum up liking successful rugby, and this American reunion betwixt 2 of nan sport's heavyweights has each nan correct ingredients.

Ireland will surely not beryllium short of support, pinch greenish jerseys dotted each complete downtown Chicago connected Friday night.

Their beingness astatine Soldier Field will evoke memories of that Paris quarter-final. It was not capable to thrust Ireland complete nan statement then. Whether it does nan instrumentality successful Chicago for nan 2nd clip remains to beryllium seen.

Ireland: J Osborne; T O'Brien, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan (capt), T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Replacements: R Kelleher, P McCarthy, F Bealham, I Henderson, C Doris, C Casey, S Prendergast, B Aki.

New Zealand: W Jordan; L Carter, Q Tupaea, J Barrett, C Clarke; B Barrett, C Roigard; E De Groot, C Taylor, F Newell, S Barrett (capt), F Holland, S Parker, A Savea, P Lakai.

Replacements: S Taukei'aho, T Williams, P Tosi, J Lord, W Sititi, C Ratima, L Fainga'anuku, D McKenzie.