This is the quarter-final the All Blacks wanted - but Ireland’s record and defence suggest Andy Farrell’s team will prevail
This is only the fifth time since professional rugby began that New Zealand’s official bookies have their side as the underdogsThanks to their victories over New Zealand in New Zealand last year, Ireland know they can win Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Photograph: Billy Stickland/InphoAs I sat beside him in the Virgin Media TV studios, what followed Shane’s words were long seconds of silence.
And hope we should. Factually, this Irish team does have the qualities to win this quarter-final, while four years ago in Japan they did not. In 2019, before Ireland’s quarter-final against New Zealand, I was trying to explain this glaring truth to an Irish nation that did not want to listen. After Ireland defeated New Zealand in the Shaky Isles in 2022 the Kiwi players and coaches were publicly humiliated by their own people. This group of proud New Zealanders were deeply hurt by the experience. So do not be fooled. This New Zealand team have been hoping to draw Ireland in the quarter-finals to take their revenge.
This is highly significant because defeating New Zealand on their home soil, as Ireland have done, remains rugby’s greatest challenge. Teams that achieve this feat are injected with an, momentum and confidence. Belief that dissipates the aura of invincibility that is woven by the well-crafted public relations mythology surrounding the black jersey.
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