Following their blowout loss last week, Saturday offers Ireland another great shot at breaking their New Zealand bagel when the second Test gets underway at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
New Zealand v Ireland
9 July 09:05
Forsyth Barr Stadium
To Win Match
New Zealand 1/8 | Draw 28/1 | Ireland 5/1
Handicap
New Zealand (-13.5) 9/10 | Ireland (+13.5) 9/10
Following their blowout loss last week, Saturday offers Ireland another great shot at breaking their New Zealand bagel when the second Test gets underway at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Andy Farrell’s men dominated the opening stages of the Auckland Test, incorporating typical Leinster-style attacking shapes and patterns to score the opener through Keith Earls after just five-minutes and a mammoth 18-phases.
At that stage, and after so much hype heading into the series, it looked as though Ireland were well and truly in with a chance of claiming their first win in the Land of the Long White Cloud in their 147-year history. As fate would have it, a nightmarish second-quarter allowed the All Blacks in for four scores after the hosts expertly capitalised on a number of half-chances as only the All Blacks can.
Aaron Smith. World class.#NZLvIRE pic.twitter.com/IDWrzSm8Ih
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 2, 2022
It sent out a timely reminder that Ian Foster’s bunch aren’t quite as lackluster as some have made them out to be. An Aaron Smith passing masterclass was the fulcrum of the Kiwis’ attack, as was another powerhouse performance from Ardie Savea, but the loss of Sam Whitelock this week (concussion) will set the team back. The ABs unexpectedly had the upper hand in the set-piece battle at Eden Park, but the Crusaders skipper’s absence will be Ireland’s gain.
In another stroke of luck for the Irish, Johnny Sexton will run out in Dunedin after going off early last week due to a head knock. Unsurprisingly, the 36-year-old’s departure from the pitch coincided with his side’s disintegration in Test 1, and the boys in green should be all the better with him on for the duration of the contest.
Verdict: Ireland 56/10
Have a strike on Ireland to make history with a first-ever win on Kiwi soil this weekend. The tourists have had a week to adapt to the All Blacks’ newfound offensive game, and though they may have won all seven of the Tests they’ve played at the Forsyth Barr since 2012, it won’t be as daunting as Eden Park. A fired-up Sexton’s inclusion, as well as the loss of Whitelock, will give Ireland the edge here.
