All eyes will be on Aviva Stadium on Friday night as the world number 1 team, Ireland, host the number 3 ranked New Zealand. We look at Friday nights fixture from a betting angle and suggest a few plays.
Ireland will be hungry for revenge after last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of the All Blacks, while New Zealand will desperately want to win to maintain a mental edge over the hosts.
Ireland
The Irish have not played a match since their brilliant last-minute win against South Africa in Durban 3 months ago to level the series 1-1. They had previously won the Six Nations and they will be looking to consolidate their number 1 ranking in what looks to be their toughest test of the November Internationals.
Ireland starting lineup
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne
Ireland have named an extremely experienced side for this weekend with plenty of players in the squad knowing how it feels to beat New Zealand. They will however miss out in the front row as Tadgh Furlong is not available, meaning Finaly Bealham will step up while Tom O’Toole gets called up to the bench.
New Zealand
After a disappointing Rugby Championship by New Zealand’s standards, they managed to turn things around in the start of their end-of-year tour. They put in a solid performance against Japan two weeks ago, winning the match 19-64 and then went on to hold out last weekend against England at Twickenham, winning 22-24.
New Zealand starting lineup
15. Will Jordan, 14. Mark Tele’a, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett (Vice-Captain), 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Damian McKenzie, 9. Cortez Ratima, 8. Ardie Savea (Vice-Captain), 7. Sam Cane, 6. Wallace Sititi, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 4. Scott Barrett (Captain), 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Asafo Aumua, 1. Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16. George Bell, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Stephen Perofeta.
New Zealand have named a very different side to their team that beat Ireland in Paris, with only 9 starters in the weekends team having been in that match day squad. They have only made two changes to the side after last weeks win against England with Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett both being ruled out with concussion.
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Head-to-head
The two sides have played each other five times in the last 3 years, an Irish tour to New Zealand, a match in Dublin and a World Cup quarter-final. Ireland have won three of the five matches, the series in New Zealand and the match in Dublin while New Zealand managed to win the all-important World Cup quarter-final. New Zealand will be looking for their first win in Dublin since 2016.
Ireland are favourites to win the match and the bookies have them trading at 1.44 while New Zealand are trading at 3.25, the draw is 26.00. The handicap at the time of writing is Ireland [-5.5] at 1.85.
Ireland have beaten New Zealand by 7 points or more in both of the last two matches. They managed to score 20 points or more in their last two international matches while conceding no more than13 points in home games during the Six Nations.
Verdict
Their brilliant defence record at home coupled with their ability to score points as shown in South Africa has me thinking they should beat New Zealand by more than the handicap.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Ireland [-5.5] at 1.85.
A market I really enjoy in the last try scorer and I am going to have a flutter on Jamie Osborne coming off the bench for the Irish to score the final try of the game.
Suggested Bet: Last Try Scorer Jamie Osborne at 19.00
Click here for all Ireland v New Zealand betting
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
