Key events
2 min: Roigard crunches a box kick over halfway and NZ are back on the ball after Sheehan overthrows at the line-out. Jordan runs hard and Ireland hold on too long, giving away an early penalty. Beauden drills it out for a line-out inside Ireland’s 22.
Righto, here we go!
Codie Taylor leads the Haka. He looks immense in a very tight fitting jumper!
Here come the players. Emerald green and pitch black. Two iconic kits, two iconic teams, two iconic anthems to follow before an iconic Haka.
How good is this?
In the last five meetings, the team leading at halftime has gone on to win every time.
Does this mean something? Maybe. Maybe not. Guess we’ll find out soon.
Unless I’m mistaken – and there’s every chance – we have eight survivors from 2016.
Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier, Finlay Bealham for Ireland.
Beauden Barrett, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea for New Zealand.
Nothing can separate them!
Another close game has just finished.
Jokes! Scotland have just hammered USA 85-0.
C’mon Ireland and New Zealand. Give us something please!
It’s interesting to note that New Zealand have played nine times since Ireland last got together.
They’ve lost two of those (to Argentina and South Africa), but won seven, including three against an understrength France.
Does this mean they’re overcooked? Are Ireland underbaked?
Less than half an hour to go.
Plenty of time to read Michael’s preview:
Let’s hope this is tighter than the two previous matches today:
New Zealand team news
Beauden Barrett starts at 10. Not that you’re asking, but I’ve never thought that’s his best position. But what do I know?
Ardie Savea is at 7 . I think that’s his best position rather than 8. So maybe I do know a thing or two.
Cam Roigard, one of the best 9s in the world, continues to make that jersey his own.
Look out for the impact of Damian McKenzie and Wallace Sititi off the wood.
It’s a stacked team. It’s the All Blacks. They’re primed and ready to exact revenge. Superstars aplenty.
New Zealand: Jordan; Carter, Tupaea, J Barrett, Clarke; B Barrett, Roigard; de Groot, Taylor, Newell, S Barrett, Holland, Parker, Savea, Lakai
Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Tosi, Lord, Sititi, Ratima, Fainga’anuku, McKenzie.
Ireland team news
It’s Munster over Leinster at 10. Or rather, Jack Crowley Sam Prendergast.
Big Andy Farrell has made a big bold call, but he can’t leave anything to chance and has placed his faith in the more pragmatic fly-half, who, to be fair, has been in brilliant form for his province.
He’ll have the reliable hands of Jamison Gibson-Park inside him and some power out wide.
Dan Sheehan skippers at hooker with a mobile back row to offer some heft.
Bundee Aki starts on the bench. Ireland are here to mix it with the All Blacks heavies.
Ireland: Osborne; O’Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (c), Furlong, Ryan, Beirne, Baird, van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: Kelleher, McCarthy, Bealham, Henderson, Doris, Casey, Prendergast, Aki.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Back to the scene where everything changed.
Before kick-off on 5 November 2016, Ireland had never beaten New Zealand in 28 matches stretched across 111 years.
When the final whistle rang out across Soldier Field in Chicago, the King Kong was off Irish rugby’s back thanks to a historic 40-29 victory.
That was the spark. In the 10 games they’ve since played against New Zealand, Ireland have won five, including two in enemy territory to claim a Test series in 2022.
But no Irish supporter will need reminding that their last encounter against the All Blacks came in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal where Sam Cane’s men held firm on defence and dumped the Irish out of a tournament they thought was theirs for the taking.
Which means there are plenty of scores to settle in Chicago. New histories need writing. New yarns need spinning. Two brilliant yet flawed teams will be desperate to get the job done. There might not be a glittering trophy riding on this, but you can be sure there’s plenty of pride at stake.
Kick-off at 8:10 pm GMT, 3:10 pm local time.
Teams and other bits to follow shortly.
