TEST RUGBY: Ireland begin tour of New Zealand

09.06.2012
Ireland v New Zealand in Auckland



Venue: Eden Park

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Preview
It’s rugby test time at Eden Park, Auckland. Eight months after Richie McCaw held the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft here, the All Blacks begin a new season. Can Ireland spoil the reunion?

Ireland begin a three-test rugby tour of New Zealand but sadly without any mid-week games. They have a blend of experience and some new faces. They do not have a good record against the All Blacks. In over a hundred years of rugby rivalry they have never defeated New Zealand. The closest they got was a 10-10 draw in 1973. Ireland will hope to replicate the form and passion that saw them push past Australia 15-6, here at Eden park, at the World Cup last year.

Ireland is with their great captain Brian O’Driscoll. Ireland with him in the side is a different team. He will be eager to end his career with a first ever win against New Zealand.

New Zealand breathed a sigh of relief after McCaw was selected for this first test. He is one of a pair of rugby test players (Dan Carter is the other) who without New Zealand is just not the same team.

There will be huge interest in this match around the world. New Zealand has a habit of starting their test programme on a rusty note. If Ireland can catch them off guard and reproduce the drive and passion as they did against Australia, they could cause an upset aka Scotland v Australia last Tuesday.

Last Five Encounters 20.11.2010 New Zealand 38-18 in Dublin
12.06.2010 New Zealand 66-29 in New Plymouth
15.11.2008 New Zealand 22-3 in Dublin
07.06.2008 New Zealand 21-11 in Wellington
17.06.2006 New Zealand 27-17 in Auckland

Ireland Last Five
04.03.2012 v France D 17-17 in Paris (6 Nations)
25.02.2012 v Italy W 42-10 in Dublin (6 Nations)
05.02.2012 v Wales L 21-23 in Dublin (6 Nations)
11.09.2011 v USA W 22-10 in New Plymouth
17.09.2011 v Australia W 15-6 in Auckland

New Zealand Last Five
23.10.2011 v France W 8-7 in Auckland (World Cup, Final)
16.10.2011 v Australia W 20-6 in Auckland (SF)
09.10.2011 v Argentina W 33-10 in Auckland (QF)
02.10.2011 v Canada W 79-15 in Wellington
24.09.2011 v France W 37-17 in Auckland

GWC Rugby Rankings World Table-New Zealand 1st, Ireland 8th

IRB Ranking Points New Zealand 91.43, Ireland 79.85

Prediction: At their best, NZ by 30, but tonight NZ by 15

Teams



NEW ZEALAND

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Zac Guildford	Hawkes Bay
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Sonny Bill Williams	Canterbury
11		Julian Savea *	Wellington
10		Daniel Carter	Canterbury
9		Aaron Smith *	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richard McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Victor Vito	Wellington
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Brodie Retallick *	Bay of Plenty
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Hikawera Elliott	Hawkes Bay
17		Benjamin Franks	Tasman
18		Alistair Williams	Auckland
19		Adam Thompson	Otago
20		Piri Weepu	Auckland
21		Aaron Cruden	Manawatu
22		Benjamin Smith	Otago
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

* New test caps



IRELAND

15		Robert Kearney	Leinster
14		Fergus McFadden	Leinster
13		Brian O'Driscoll (Capt.)	Leinster
12		Keith Earls	Munster
11		Simon Zebo *	Munster
10		Jonathan Sexton	Leinster
9		Conor Murray	Munster
8		James Heaslip	Leinster
7		Sean O'Brien	Leinster
6		Peter O'Mahony	Munster
5		Donnacha Ryan	Munster
4		Daniel Touhy *	Ulster
3		Declan Fitzpatrick *	Ulster
2		Rory Best	Ulster
1		Cian Healy	Leinster
16		Sean Cronin	Leinster
17		Ronan Loughney *	Connacht
18		Donncha O'Callaghan	Munster
19		Kevin McLaughlin	Leinster
20		Eoin Reddan	Leinster
21		Ronan O'Gara	Munster
22		Darren Cave	Ulster
		HEAD COACH: Declan Kidney

* New test caps