Ireland And All Blacks Meet For First Time Since Epic Rugby World Cup Quarterfinal

Oct. 14, 2023 is a date which will live in infamy for Irish rugby.

green machine was purring going into a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in a setting more like Dublin than Paris, and y h All Blacks right where y wanted m. Ireland was on a 17-match, 15-month winning streak and it h New Zealand's number from winning five of previous eight contests.

Irish were confident eugh after beating defending champion South Africa in pool st to tell Springboks y'd see m in final.

But All Blacks humbled m 28-24. y came out of gate faster, never trailed, and withstood a last-ditch 37-phase attack to extend Ireland's World Cup curse to eight quarterfinals and eight defeats.

y meet on Friday in Dublin for first time since World Cup, memories fresher in Ireland minds than New Zealand's. Irish have 17 survivors in matchday 23 and same coach, All Blacks only 10 and a new coach.

“We've moved on since quarterfinal,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell says, and he's right, to a point.

Ireland suffered World Cup hangover. It retained Six Nations title and didn’t lose a series in South Africa for first time, an historic feat all more remarkable without Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen or Dan Sheehan.

All but Sheehan will start against All Blacks, against which Ireland goes to ar level.

Ever since Ireland beat New Zealand for first time in 2016 — under Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt — after 111 years of trying, games have become fiery, grudge-len matches. Ireland's ability to talk talk and back it up crashes against New Zealand's desperation to restore dominance. New Zealand hasn't won in Ireland in eight years.

re's doubt Ireland will be stewing from World Cup quarterfinal, especially after some player exchanges following that game were revisited recently by retired Jonathan Sexton to hype his book. Sexton has returned to squ as a consultant.

Ireland has also officially ded a former Crusers assistant of New Zealand coach Scott Robertson to its backroom staff, Andrew Goodman, but starts without injured tigh prop Thg Furlong, a blow. But his replacement, Finlay Bealham, finished win over Springboks in Durban in July.

That match was a breakthrough for Farrell. He benched Peter O'Mahony, who captained team in Six Nations, gave Thg Beirne blindside flank, and . 8 Caelan Doris captaincy.

“He's calm, he's taken it all in his stride and that puts everyone else at ease,” Farrell says of Doris. “On top of that, he's t in b form. He's thriving in (captaincy) w. He's walking tall.”

Like Ireland with Furlong, New Zealand was dealt a blow by losing a concussed Beauden Barrett from last weekend's win over England . He'd brought back assurance to flyhalf role. Damian McKenzie, superb off bench, was back as starting 10 with question marks.

“When he's on, he's world class, shows great touches and keeps believing in himself,” Robertson says of McKenzie. And when he's t on? “Just trust him.”

rebuilding All Blacks are still looking for a benchmark win this year. Unlike Ireland, y failed to beat Springboks in South Africa, and Robertson compared this match to odds facing m in Johannesburg in August. Boks pounced on a late All Blacks yellow card to score two converted tries and win 31-27 .

Robertson has fond memories of rrn Ireland from playing for a club east of Belfast at 18, and was asked for his regard on rivalry with Irish.

“It's a great story, great narrative,” he says. “Two countries similar in lots of ways. Small island off a big island, enjoy each or's company, fierce rivalry on field, lot of respect, two smart teams, y play a good style. That's a big part of storyline. y've h a little bit of success in our backyard and we've h some as well.”