Ireland get back to business when they begin a series of tough Test matches beginning with a reunion with the All Blacks in Chicago this weekend.

Ireland will first battle New Zealand at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday, November 1st (3.10pm local / 8.10pm Irish time). The fixture marks their return to the venue for the first time since they famously beat rugby’s most iconic team in 2016.

Three consecutive home Tests at the Aviva Stadium follow, with Japan, Australia, and South Africa all visiting Dublin on successive weekends.

Farrell has named matchday squad for the first fixture, from a wider squad selection which familiar faces from the previous World Cup cycle.

Some Irish rugby stakeholders believe that this window is a good chance to blood fresh talent and to an extent, that will be done with Paddy McCarthy set to debut from the bench.

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However, the backbone of the Ireland squad remains the same and a series of key men will be in the twilight of the careers come the end of this cycle at the 2027  World Cup.

Bundee Aki, such a key presence in midfield under Farrell, will be 37, while the cohort of Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan will be 35. Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw will be close behind at 34.

The ageing profile of the Ireland squad, coupled with an underwhelming 2025 Six Nations, had bred fears that Ireland will not be as primed for success as they were at the 2023 World Cup.

Conor Murray backs Ireland for history at 2027 World Cup

However, Conor Murray, a member of that squad, is of the opposite view and believes that the current crop of player could make history Down Under in two years’ time.

Now a co-host on the BBC’s Ireland Rugby Social podcast, the Irish rugby legend assessed that Ireland are trending towards a maiden World Cup semi-final or beyond.

This group will continue on trending upwards as an Irish team,” Murray said.

“The experience the lads would have had on the Lions Tour and (Andy) Farrell will bring it back and he doesn’t accept staying at the same level.

“He will look at the positions, 10 being obvious with two unbelievable talents. There’s a few more in the background too – they are going to push each other to crazy high standards.

“The main thing is that the competition in the squad is huge. It will keep the machine going. When I retired, I was at peace with it because I had hung on long enough but the one thing in my head was that this team was going to keep on winning trophies and big games.

“The World Cup was way too far way to me but when it does come around I think we will witness something that hasn’t been done.”

A bold prediction but, to Murray’s point, there is no shortage of depth in the Irish rugby ranks.

You can view Ireland’s squad for that impending clash with New Zealand here.

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