Ireland v New Zealand Prediction, Preview & Odds – Rugby World Cup QF

We have an Ireland v New Zealand prediction for you plus the latest odds, team news and matchups ahead of this Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final.

It doesn’t get much bigger than this. Ireland, the world’s number one side and tournament favourites, aiming to finally break their infamous Rugby World Cup quarter-final hoodoo.

The All Blacks stand in their way, the most successful team in the history of the sport who will be out for revenge against an Ireland team that has beaten them 3 out of 4 times over the last two years.

Find out everything you need to know below about what sets up to be an absolute classic encounter.

How To Watch Ireland v New Zealand

When is Ireland v New Zealand?

The 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final between Ireland and New Zealand will be played at 8pm on Saturday, October 14th.

TV Channel

Ireland vs New Zealand will be broadcast on Virgin Media One in Ireland with pre-match coverage from 6.50pm.

Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game on ITV1 with pre-match coverage from 7.15pm.

Live Stream

In Ireland you can stream this 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final on Virgin Media Player.

In the United Kingdom you can stream the game on ITVX.

Where is Ireland v New Zealand Being Played?

Ireland will play New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. If you are curious as to where Saint-Denis is, it’s only an hour’s car journey north of Paris.

Ireland v New Zealand Odds

After an incredible pool stage at this tournament, Ireland are 4/6 favourites to beat New Zealand in this Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final.

The All Blacks find themselves in the unusual position of being underdogs at 11/8 in the betting.

The draw after 80 minutes could prove value at 20/1 in what is expected to be a close game.

Handicap Betting

Ireland: -2 @ 10/11

New Zealand: +2 @ 10/11

Handicap Draw: -2 @ 18/1

To Qualify Odds

Ireland: 8/13

New Zealand: 13/10

In the all important ‘To Qualify’ betting market Ireland are 8/13. That implies that Ireland have a 61.9% chance of advancing to a first ever World Cup Semi-Final.

New Zealand have been given odds of 13/10 to qualify. Those odds imply that the All Blacks have a 43.5% chance of qualifying for a fourth consecutive Semi-Final at the Rugby World Cup.

Click Below For Our LIVE Ireland v New Zealand Odds

Teams News

Ireland Squad To Play New Zealand

Starting Lineup

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Jonathan Sexton (C)
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Garry Ringrose
14. Mack Hansen
15. Hugo Keenan

Bench

Forwards: 16. Ronan Kelleher 17. David Kilcoyne 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Joe McCarthy 20. Jack Conan

Backs: 21. Conor Murray 22. Jack Crowley 23. Jimmy O’Brien

Ireland Team News

Ireland announced their starting lineup and bench for this Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final on Wednesday and there were some big calls made!

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe retained their places in the back three with Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki  also retained in midfield.

Johnny Sexton Captains the side in the biggest game of his career and is once again partnered by  Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.

Among the forwards, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row. Tadhg Beirne will partner Iain Henderson in the second row. Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris round out the pack in the back row.

On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy and Jack Conan are the forward replacements.

Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Jimmy O’Brien make up the replacements in the back-line. O’Brien is in line for his Rugby World Cup debut as he comes in to the squad due to the injuries to Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw.

New Zealand Team To Play Ireland

Starting Lineup

1. Ethan De Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Scott Barrett
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Sam Cane (C)
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Richie Mo’Unga
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Will Jordan
15. Beauden Barrett

Bench

Forwards: 16. Dane Coles 17. Tamaiti Williams 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Samuel Whitelock 20. Dalton Papali’i

Backs: 21. Finlay Christie 22. Damian McKenzie 23. Anton Lienert-Brown

New Zealand Team News

The All Blacks, unlike Ireland, enter this game with a rude bill of health. Beauden Barrett has gotten the nod over  Damian McKenzie in the full-back position as expected.

The major news is that star wing Mark Telea has been dropped from the Match Day Squad for disciplinary reasons. Telea allegedly broke team protocol during the week with rumours that he broke the team’s curfew.

Ireland v New Zealand Preview

Ireland’s Form

Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup Results

Ireland 82-8 Romania | Pool B | Saturday, September 9th.

Ireland 59-16 Tonga | Pool B | Saturday, September 16th.

South Africa 8-13 Ireland | Pool B | Saturday, September 23rd.

Ireland 36-14 Scotland | Pool B | Saturday, October 7th.

2023 Rugby World Cup Form

Ireland opened up their 2023 World Cup campaign against Romania. Nerves were tested early on as the Romanians scored an early try but the Irish responded almost immediately with a try of their own and would go on to win the game 82-8 to get off the mark in this year’s tournament.

Ireland picked up where they left off in their second match at this tournament. Tonga were the opposition that day and they proved little test for Andy Farrell’s side as they won big again on a scoreline of 59-16.

The third Pool B game for Ireland was arguably the most anticipated pool game of the entire tournament as they faced South Africa in the Stade de France. In an incredible game of rugby Ireland prevailed with their goal line defence securing the win at the death. Such was the level of performance by Ireland in that victory that it made them Rugby World Cup favourites.

The Irish continued their perfect start to the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a hammering of the 5th ranked nation in the world, Scotland. The Scots were quietly confident that they could cause an upset and qualify for the quarter-finals at Ireland’s expense. Andy Farrell’s team, as if they were insulted by Scotland’s confidence, ran up the score as they secured first place in Pool B.

The reward for top spot in Pool B? A Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final date with the All Blacks where they can achieve history by becoming the first Irish team to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Form Coming Into The 2023 Rugby World Cup

This Ireland team is the number one ranked side in the world following their 2023 Grand Slam success and incredible level of form over the past two years. That was the third Grand Slam in the country’s history and the first under current Head Coach Andy Farrell.

The next time we saw this team after the Six Nations was in the summer where they played three warm-up matches in preparation for this Rugby World Cup. Andy Farrell’s side went 3/3 in those games with victories over Italy, England and Samoa.

In 2023, Ireland played eight test matches prior to the start of the World Cup and won all eight of them. That’s a testament to the standard that this Ireland team have set for themselves.

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New Zealand’s Form

New Zealand’s 2023 Rugby World Cup Results

France 27-13 New Zealand | Pool A, Friday, September 8th.

New Zealand 71-3 Namibia | Pool A, Friday, September 15th.

New Zealand 96-17 Italy | Pool A, Friday, September 29th.

New Zealand 73-0 Uruguay | Pool A, Thursday, October 5th.

2023 Rugby World Cup Form

In the opening fixture of the tournament New Zealand lost their first-ever pool stage match at a Rugby World Cup. That loss came to tournament hosts 27-13 against tournament hosts France.

The All Blacks followed that up with a rampant 71-3 win over Namibia the following weekend to get their campaign back on track.

They would then get a week break before dismantling Italy 96-17 to put themselves in high spirits and reigniting hopes that they can go all the way in this tournament.

The final pool game for New Zealand came against Uruguay. The Uruguayans proved no match for the Kiwis as they were held scoreless in a 73-0 demolition job by New Zealand.

Form Coming Into The 2023 Rugby World Cup

Head Coach Ian Foster has been in charge since 2010 and has come under pressure for his job throughout due to his 69%-win rate coming into the competition.

Remarkably, not since Laurie Mains’s 1992-1995 record of 67.6%, has an All Blacks Head Coach had a worse win percentage.

Despite this poor record, Foster was given this tournament for one last hurrah before being replaced by Scott Robertson after the World Cup.

New Zealand started their Rugby World Cup preparations with great success by winning the Rugby Championship back in July. In that competition they won all their games including a 41-12 victory over Argentina, a 35-20 win over South Africa and a convincing 38-7 win against Australia.

In New Zealand’s final warm-up games they were less than impressive. The All Blacks only narrowly beat Australia 23-20 before being dominated by South Africa in a 7-35 defeat in Twickenham.

Ireland v New Zealand Rugby Head-To-Head

All-Time Head-To-Head Record

Ireland and New Zealand have played a total of 36 Test matches against each other. The All Blacks have won 30 of those matches, Ireland have won 5 and 1 match was drawn.

History of Rugby Union Matches

The two teams first faced off during the 1905–1906 All Blacks tour of Europe and North America. New Zealand beat Ireland 15–0 in Lansdowne Road in that first test.

The All Blacks would go on to win the first 28 tests between the nations including the 27th test 60-0 in June 2012. However, the tides eventually turned in the next decade.

On November 24th in 2013, Ireland led New Zealand 22-17 with a minute to play and the ball in their hands in the New Zealand half of the field. The Irish just needed to hold onto the ball for two or three more phases to secure a historic victory.

Instead, Ireland gave up a penalty at the breakdown with a little less than 30 seconds left on the clock. The All Blacks, in typical All Blacks fashion, marched down the field and scored a try that would break Irish hearts.

While Ireland didn’t win that day, they set the table for what was to come in the next decade. Ireland’s next shot at the All Blacks came three years later at Soldier Field in Chicago. On this occasion the Irish made no mistakes as they secured their first ever win against New Zealand in emphatic fashion with a final scoreline of 40-29.

Head-To-Head Results Last Five Matches

2022: New Zealand 22-32 Ireland | Ireland Tour of New Zealand

2022: New Zealand 12-23 Ireland | Ireland Tour of New Zealand

2022: New Zealand 42-19 Ireland | Ireland Tour of New Zealand

2021: Ireland 29-20 New Zealand | Autumn International

2019: New Zealand 46-14 Ireland | Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final

Trends

Ireland have won 3 of the last 5 matches between these two teams.

New Zealand have won all two matches between these teams at Rugby World Cups, most recently beating Ireland 46-14 in the Quarter-Final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Key Players To Watch

Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

Ireland no longer rely on the brilliance of Johnny Sexton to the degree that they did in the past. But make no mistake about it, Sexton is still absolutely key to the success of this Ireland team and that will again be the case in Paris against New Zealand on Saturday night.

The Leinster legend broke Ronan O’Gara’s record for most points scored for Ireland earlier in this competition and has continued in that fine form throughout the pool stage. 

Sexton has been in great form from the kicking tee with 17/20 or 85% accuracy to date in this tournament. Ireland will need him to be at his best both from open play and from the boot if they are to secure a first ever Rugby World Cup Semi-Final berth on Saturday.

Mark Telea (New Zealand)

Telea entered this tournament as one of the favourites to be the Top Tryscorer at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He justified that by scoring a brace of tries against France in their 27-13 defeat in the opening game of this Rugby World Cup. He grabbed his third try of the tournament in New Zealand’s 96-17 win over Italy.

The Blues wing has been rewarded by his club with a contract that will keep him there until at least 2025. The 26-year-old’s signing came to the delight of Blues and All-Black fans who were keen to keep him in the country.

Telea’s form in 2023 has been excellent. This year he has equalled Doug Howlett’s Blues record for tries in a season (12) while leading the competition in clean breaks (24) and defenders beaten (101).

Having been rested for New Zealand’s final Pool Game against Uruguay, he will return to the fold against Ireland and will be a huge try threat.

The Stade de France is silenced as Mark Telea goes over for the first try of the 2023 Rugby World Cup!

📱 Updates 👉 Live: RWC Opener: France v New Zealand updates (https://t.co/UfZlrawZG3)

📺 Watch live 👉 https://t.co/VSwA7or0dn#RWC2023 #FRAvNZL #RTERugby pic.twitter.com/wkvegplWbg

— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 8, 2023

Ireland v New Zealand Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Ireland 25-33 New Zealand

Ireland come into this Quarter-Final with their best ever chance of winning the Rugby World Cup, not to mind getting beyond the quarter-finals for the first time. They’re going to be very close in this one, but I worry about them, particularly with injuries.

New Zealand have been harshly criticised for some time and while they’re not the force of old, they remain an All-Blacks side and I fear we’re underestimating their chances in this one.

I’d love an Ireland victory, but I’m genuinely not sure it will happen. I hope I am wrong!

Best Bet: New Zealand Win by 1-12 points @ 2/1

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