Saturday, June 12, 2010

INTERNATIONAL TEST RUGBY: Ireland Down Under

12.06.2010
Ireland v New Zealand in New Plymouth

Venue: Yarrow Stadium

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Preview
Could this be Ireland's day? For so long the Irish have played the All Blacks and lost. On Saturday they have a grand opportunity to achieve what no other Irish team has done.

The Irish arrive in New Zealand with virtually their strongest possible side whilst New Zealand introduces 6 new players to test rugby, either in the starting lineup or from the bench.

It will be a fascinating test, old v new.

Last Five Encounters
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
10.06.2006 New Zealand 34-23 in Hamilton
22.06.2002 New Zealand 40-8 in Auckland

Of recent Ireland's best performances have been on New Zealand soil. The closest Ireland has come was 10-10 draw in Dublin, 1973.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-New Zealand 1st, Ireland 3rd
IRB Rankings-New Zealand 1st (91.68), Ireland 5th (82.61)

Prediction: New Zealand by 10 points.

Teams

8[1]

New Zealand
1
5 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, Capt. 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Zac Guildford.
Head Coach: Graham Henry

1[1]

Ireland
15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, Capt. 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Dan Tuohy, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Geordan Murphy.
Head Coach: Declan Kidney

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