Ireland v New Zealand: Key talking points ahead of Dublin rematch
Saturday 19 November 2016 20:04, UK
Ireland waited 111 years for a victory against New Zealand and now have the chance to grab a second in 15 days when they meet in Dublin on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 4.45pm.
Ireland's 40-29 victory in Chicago ended the All Blacks' 18-game winning streak and are now primed for a furious backlash at the Aviva Stadium.
As Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt argue over who is favourites for Saturday's rematch, Ireland skipper Rory Best has challenged his side to scale new heights in performance to pull off another victory.
Can Ireland make further history and beat the back-to-back world champions for a second time? We examine five key talking points:
Ireland refuse to fall for Hansen mind games
New Zealand boss Steve Hansen has branded his back-to-back world champions "underdogs" for the Dublin clash.
Hansen's claim has been met with near incredulity in all corners, especially as the All Blacks boast a 92 per cent win rate during his tenure. They have lost just four in 66 during Hansen's reign, and those statistics belie his claim that Ireland enter Saturday's clash as favourites.
Just because Ireland claimed their first-ever win over New Zealand on November 5, the hosts have insisted that does not change the complexion of facing the world's best team one iota.
Ireland have rejected any suggestion of mind games from New Zealand and Hansen but he has no doubt issued that tag in order to challenge his side to hit back to expected form.
New Zealand's all-new second row
The return of fit-again duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock is expected to transform New Zealand's approach.
Firstly the potent locks will boost the All Blacks' scrum and lineout no end. But more than that, Retallick especially should revamp New Zealand's approach with ball in hand.
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The peerless Retallick acts as a hugely-dangerous auxiliary midfield playmaker in New Zealand's unique attacking system. Few teams have managed to shut down the wily operator, so Ireland have to do just that in order to produce another victory.
Dagg ushered in to counter Ireland's aerial game
Battering ram wing Waisake Naholo has been relegated to New Zealand's bench for failing to cope with Ireland's tactical kicking strategy in Chicago.
Naholo floundered as Ireland's aerial bombardment paid huge dividend at Soldier Field. Picked to power through the middle of the field with ball in hand, instead Naholo wound up too often clutching at straws as Ireland gained front-foot ball through Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray's inch-perfect kicking game.
Hansen has picked Israel Dagg on the wing in the hope New Zealand can this time shut down one of Ireland's primary sources of attacking platforms.
O'Brien can terrorise NZ again
When Ireland ran New Zealand all the way in their 24-22 defeat in Dublin 2013, for the first hour back-rower Sean O'Brien struck fear into the stunned All Blacks.
New Zealand's overtime converted try to steal the game has since been well documented, with the All Blacks exploiting that last-gasp victory in order to boost their unbeatable aura.
Ireland's win in Chicago has dented that invincibility of course though, and fit-again flanker O'Brien can once again ruin New Zealand's claim to immortality.
The Leinster star is just about approaching full tilt and can easily repeat his barnstorming 2013 showing.
Spare a thought for O'Mahony
Munster flanker Peter O'Mahony has proved one of Ireland's most potent and dependable performers over the last five years.
So it must have been with a heavy heart that Ireland boss Joe Schmidt once again omitted the bullish back-rower from his line-up to face New Zealand.
O'Mahony would have been frustrated but accepting of missing the Chicago match, still fighting back to full fitness as he was after his long-term battles with knee trouble.
But this week he has been in full flight, so to miss a second match against the world's best side in as many weeks must cut deep.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 CJ Stander, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Garry Ringrose.
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Liam Squire, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Waisake Naholo.
Watch Ireland v New Zealand live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Saturday from 4.45pm. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV pass. No contract.
