Nine years after Ireland made history in Chicago, beating the All Blacks for the first time ever, these two sides have returned to the city for the rematch.
It might be a stretch for some to say that New Zealand are out for revenge, given just four All Blacks – Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea – remain from that 2016 encounter, but New Zealanders have always been proud of their records and achievements, and that loss would have hurt.
The result also kick-started one of the great rugby rivalries, which has seen the teams trade blows ever since. In 2022, Ireland went over to New Zealand for a three-Test series and despite losing the first, they won the next two for a remarkable series triumph. However, it is the All Blacks who have claimed the biggest wins, eliminating the Irish at the quarter-final stage of the last two Rugby World Cups.
That famous day in October 2023 was of course when Rieko Ioane drew the ire of Johnny Sexton for a comment made after the final whistle, with the feud continuing when the former fly-half gave his version of events in his autobiography.
Ioane won’t be playing this weekend to add to the drama of the occasion, but many of the individuals that featured at the previous World Cup still remain. There is a sense that these two teams don’t like each other very much and it would not be a surprise to see that tension spill over on Saturday.
Ireland will certainly need that fire if they are to stand any chance of claiming a victory at Soldier Field. A battle hardened outfit would definitely have more backers but, ultimately, this squad has not been together since the Six Nations due to the British and Irish Lions series.
When you add in the lack of game time for their Lions stars – the Leinster-Munster encounter was the only taste of action for many of them – then the All Blacks very much have the upper hand going into this weekend.
Where the game will be won
While there are several technical aspects which could decide this game, in many ways Ireland will have to focus on the emotional side of it in the early stages. There is no doubt that their players are short on match practice and if their intensity is lacking then the All Blacks, who are battle hardened following the Rugby Championship, could wrap up the game in the first half. This New Zealand side may not dominate like previous teams could, but there is still enough quality in the squad to score quick-fire tries.
A good start is therefore vital for Andy Farrell’s men as they look to lay the foundations of set-piece, defence and a good kicking game before they seek to be effective in phase play. Under Farrell, they’ve always had a wonderful ability to hold onto the ball and put defences under pressure, but that is much harder to do when you haven’t played together in several months. While there is the Leinster core providing cohesion – 12 players from the Dublin-based outfit start on Saturday – it is still a very different level to what they will face in Chicago.
As a result, Scott Robertson’s side have an advantage before the game’s even started. The All Blacks will certainly look to play on that, while they will also seek to improve with ball in hand. With the set-piece and front five in general functioning well, it is odd to see a New Zealand outfit struggle so much in attack, but they have yet to find that rhythm behind the scrum under Robertson. On paper, they have the edge in the set-piece and, providing they neutralise Ireland’s aerial game, the Kiwis will have the platform to launch their attacks. It could be the match it finally clicks for the All Blacks.
Last time they met
What they said
Head coach Farrell has rejected the idea that his Ireland players will be underdone for their encounter with the All Blacks.
“It’s irrelevant,” he said.
“You guys have talked about the performances of some of the guys in the big game, Leinster v Munster, some of them hit the ground running. They’re mentally prepared to give the best of themselves.
“When they turn up for camp, realise what they’re representing and what the shirt means, it seems to focus the mind a lot more. You still have to go out and prove it.
“Even if people think we’re underdone slightly because of lack of game time, I don’t believe that, I don’t believe that. These lads are fit, the challenge is for them to be mentally sharp, to be ahead of the game.”
The person opposite Farrell in the coaching box, Robertson, also took that view.
“They know who they are, they’ve been there long enough, they’ve got a lot of cohesion and they’ve played together a lot,” the All Blacks boss said.
“They’ve got together and they’ll be pretty clear on how they play, he’s [Farrell] experienced coaching, he’s good and they’ll be up for it.
“Obviously, they’ve [Ireland] got a few dings and a few players not available, so you’re doing your best guess, you don’t want to spend too much time on it.
“Obviously, he’s a big ball carrier, [Stuart] McCloskey, and he’ll add to the team. Sometimes the guys get their occasion and they rise to it and I’m sure he will. They’ve got a really good strong bench, so I expect the best of them.”
Players to watch
There are not too many surprises in the Ireland side but there has been a constant debate around the fly-half jersey and, after his player of the match performance in the Munster-Leinster clash, Jack Crowley has been given the responsibility ahead of Sam Prendergast. In truth, Crowley is the better fly-half at this point in time, but he needs to show all his quality to give his team a chance. That includes kicking well, both out of hand and off the tee, and knitting together the backline during phase play.
Crowley certainly needs help, however, and the fly-half will hope that he gets it from Stuart McCloskey, who provides a physical presence in the midfield, and the two Tadhgs up front, Furlong and Beirne. Those forwards both remain top-class performers but, with the All Blacks having such a strong set-piece, the onus will be on them to negate the All Blacks front five, whether it be in scrum, lineout or maul.
Finally, experience may be the order of the day in Farrell’s selection but, following injuries to Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen, they have been replaced by talented Leinster duo Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien respectively. Both are slick operators with ball in hand but Farrell will demand that they do their jobs aerially as they look to put pressure on the All Blacks under the high ball.
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That has been a significant weakness for New Zealand in 2025 but in Caleb Clarke they have one of the best bomb defusers around. Clarke only has 45 minutes of Test rugby under his belt this year but he remains one of their best exponents under the high ball and is arguably their best chance of finding some joy in that area. Alongside Leroy Carter and Will Jordan, they have a well balanced back three.
Clarke can also be a real weapon with ball in hand but that will only happen if the midfield can open up the space for their wings. In Quinn Tupaea, Robertson will hope that he has finally found the answer at outside centre. After Ioane was shifted from that slot following a poor 2024, Billy Proctor was handed the reins, but he has also struggled to convince onlookers. However, Tupaea was superb for the All Blacks in Perth and, as a result, he has been handed another chance at 13.
His selection will mean little if New Zealand fail to get front foot ball, though, and that is where relative back-row newbies Peter Lakai and Simon Parker come in. Lakai and Parker have only become starters recently but they both have the tools to become very effective Test players. The latter is your typical modern day six – tall and powerful but also athletic – while the former is an excellent carrier with a superb skill set and equally as effective at the breakdown.
Prediction
While Farrell tried to steer the conversation away from his players’ lack of game time, it will surely be a factor. To be honest, even if they had been battle hardened, we still had New Zealand as firm favourites, with an ageing Ireland squad showing some concerning signs in the Six Nations. Maybe those Irish legends will roll back the years but we reckon that Robertson’s charges will be too strong for their underdone opponents. All Blacks by 15 points.
Previous results
2024: New Zealand won 23-13 in Dublin
2023: New Zealand won 28-24 in Paris
2022: Ireland won 32-22 in Wellington
2022: Ireland won 23-12 in Dunedin
2022: New Zealand won 42-19 in Auckland
2021: Ireland won 29-20 in Dublin
2019: New Zealand won 46-14 in Chofu
2018: Ireland won 16-9 in Dublin
2016: New Zealand won 21-9 in Dublin
2016: Ireland won 40-29 in Chicago
The teams
Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Bundee Aki
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23 Damian McKenzie
Date: Saturday, November 1
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Kick-off: 15:10 local (20:10 GMT, 09:10 NZDT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)
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