Zürcher Nachrichten - Irish face All Blacks in rematch of World Cup thriller

EUR -
AED 3.877242
AFN 71.820062
ALL 98.272228
AMD 416.583842
ANG 1.903733
AOA 961.636236
ARS 1065.36838
AUD 1.620839
AWG 1.900087
AZN 1.795003
BAM 1.955881
BBD 2.132708
BDT 126.22645
BGN 1.955642
BHD 0.397871
BIF 3120.818591
BMD 1.055604
BND 1.415059
BOB 7.299027
BRL 6.385775
BSD 1.056304
BTN 89.346719
BWP 14.371326
BYN 3.456844
BYR 20689.837173
BZD 2.129108
CAD 1.480316
CDF 3029.582991
CHF 0.930934
CLF 0.037416
CLP 1032.433346
CNY 7.646585
CNH 7.654295
COP 4656.279524
CRC 536.802002
CUC 1.055604
CUP 27.973504
CVE 110.272724
CZK 25.239809
DJF 188.090702
DKK 7.458156
DOP 63.771176
DZD 140.937869
EGP 52.341385
ERN 15.834059
ETB 133.501598
FJD 2.391047
FKP 0.833206
GBP 0.831256
GEL 2.887107
GGP 0.833206
GHS 16.21406
GIP 0.833206
GMD 74.948175
GNF 9104.465204
GTQ 8.150416
GYD 220.990824
HKD 8.216225
HNL 26.725366
HRK 7.529896
HTG 138.430845
HUF 413.026232
IDR 16738.606075
ILS 3.841543
IMP 0.833206
INR 89.305307
IQD 1383.71827
IRR 44414.535865
ISK 145.102984
JEP 0.833206
JMD 166.426927
JOD 0.748531
JPY 158.424513
KES 136.964614
KGS 91.627408
KHR 4257.096536
KMF 492.432253
KPW 950.043144
KRW 1474.80581
KWD 0.324545
KYD 0.880207
KZT 545.792718
LAK 23182.086469
LBP 94588.652816
LKR 307.015687
LRD 189.573769
LSL 19.050334
LTL 3.116924
LVL 0.638524
LYD 5.16946
MAD 10.56834
MDL 19.330164
MGA 4955.018482
MKD 61.557594
MMK 3428.560412
MNT 3586.942123
MOP 8.468532
MRU 42.13775
MUR 49.032313
MVR 16.309096
MWK 1831.606832
MXN 21.446536
MYR 4.692146
MZN 67.447914
NAD 19.049252
NGN 1777.066683
NIO 38.871986
NOK 11.678891
NPR 142.955627
NZD 1.782952
OMR 0.406411
PAB 1.056304
PEN 3.956365
PGK 4.261379
PHP 61.871085
PKR 293.708807
PLN 4.293393
PYG 8249.734138
QAR 3.850543
RON 4.977279
RSD 116.949489
RUB 111.883996
RWF 1456.512332
SAR 3.965766
SBD 8.85714
SCR 14.604733
SDG 634.945709
SEK 11.514601
SGD 1.415359
SHP 0.833206
SLE 23.963638
SLL 22135.491765
SOS 603.71369
SRD 37.372034
STD 21848.870248
SVC 9.242472
SYP 2652.236411
SZL 19.059335
THB 36.228624
TJS 11.513343
TMT 3.70517
TND 3.32147
TOP 2.472329
TRY 36.614145
TTD 7.157027
TWD 34.300059
TZS 2786.794822
UAH 43.93771
UGX 3898.199183
USD 1.055604
UYU 45.254027
UZS 13576.208137
VES 49.883081
VND 26755.865199
VUV 125.323421
WST 2.946814
XAF 655.984304
XAG 0.034495
XAU 0.000398
XCD 2.852822
XDR 0.808034
XOF 656.015378
XPF 119.331742
YER 263.82182
ZAR 19.042989
ZMK 9501.647167
ZMW 28.440106
ZWL 339.904037
  • RBGPF

    1.0000

    62

    +1.61%

  • JRI

    0.1500

    13.56

    +1.11%

  • BCC

    0.4550

    146.855

    +0.31%

  • CMSD

    0.0600

    24.42

    +0.25%

  • RIO

    0.4850

    62.805

    +0.77%

  • SCS

    0.0600

    13.53

    +0.44%

  • CMSC

    0.0800

    24.6

    +0.33%

  • GSK

    -0.1850

    34.145

    -0.54%

  • RYCEF

    0.1800

    7.09

    +2.54%

  • BCE

    -0.0100

    27.01

    -0.04%

  • VOD

    -0.0200

    8.95

    -0.22%

  • RELX

    -0.0150

    47.035

    -0.03%

  • BTI

    0.0250

    37.965

    +0.07%

  • BP

    0.1550

    29.285

    +0.53%

  • AZN

    0.2400

    67.44

    +0.36%

  • NGG

    0.3600

    63.69

    +0.57%

Irish face All Blacks in rematch of World Cup thriller
Irish face All Blacks in rematch of World Cup thriller / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP

Irish face All Blacks in rematch of World Cup thriller

Ireland meet New Zealand on Friday at Lansdowne Road in a rematch of last year's epic Rugby World Cup quarter-final which dashed Irish dreams of lifting the trophy.

Text size:

The world number one side have bounced back from the devastating 28-24 defeat by retaining their Six Nations title and tying a two-Test series in South Africa.

The All Blacks finished second in the Rugby Championship, but come in to the game on the back of a victory over England last Saturday.

AFP Sport picks out three key things for the match:

Revenge? Forget it, says Farrell

They say revenge is a dish best served cold but whilst it might ring true for the Irish supporters and some of the players it is anything but for head coach Andy Farrell.

The 49-year-old Englishman swatted away suggestions a red mist would descend over his players eyes as they sought revenge.

The Irish matchday 23 will have 17 players from that quarter-final but the All Blacks just 10.

"It's different," said Farrell.

"Different coaching staff, a few different players, a long time ago, a new start for them.

"That's so much in the distant past for us now."

The fear factor has certainly evaporated for the Irish.

Having waited 111 years to record their first win over the All Blacks in Soldierfield in 2016 they lead them 5-4 in head to heads.

"Yeah it is a real rivalry now," said Farrell.

"Hopefully the way that we've performed or improved since Soldier Field, the respect is a little bit higher from their side for us now."

All Blacks test for Doris's captaincy

Caelan Doris has been outstanding since Farrell picked him early on in his tenure as coach and at 26 his reward is to be given the captaincy.

The No8 -- considerably younger than the previous three captains Rory Best, Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony -- has already skippered Ireland once.

However, with all due respect to Italy, leading your team against the All Blacks is a completely different challenge.

Farrell said his lack of ego was a factor in promoting him and he has no doubts Doris can handle the pressure.

“He is unbelievably diligent in getting his own stuff right," said Farrell.

"He's come on leaps and bounds in the last four years in regards to that, he's worked it out.

"He's very comfortable in his own skin."

Aside from O'Mahony, who is on the bench, Doris has also had a word with Sexton.

"He's like a sponge," Farrell said of Doris.

"He's not panicking. He's taken it all in his stride and that puts everyone else at ease.

"He's comfortable allowing others to lead at the same time.

"On top of that, he's not in bad form is he?"

Fly-halves under pressure

Teams look to fly-halves to pull the strings, to be the puppet masters but both No 10s go into the match with question marks hanging over them.

Farrell has retained faith in Jack Crowley, who has been the first choice since Sexton hung up his boots after the quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks.

However, his form like that of his province Munster has been patchy this term.

"There’s a bit of credit there, isn't there, with Jack," said Farrell.

"Like a few players, not just at Munster but at other provinces where I'm sure form is something they'd like to be pushing a bit further."

Former Ireland fullback Hugo MacNeill says Crowley has performed well but has yet to convince he can assume Sexton's mantle permanently.

"The most useful service these November Tests can provide is to have an undisputed first choice fly-half at the end of it," he told AFP.

The All Blacks have reverted to Damian McKenzie, who had been dropped to the replacements bench.

He returns as Beauden Barrett is undergoing a mandatory 12-day standdown period after failing a head injury assessment following the 24-22 win over England last Saturday.

McKenzie is a more flamboyant playmaker compared to the seasoned Barrett but that comes with risks attached.

“Ah, D-Mac is D-Mac, isn't he?" said head coach Scott Robertson.

"You get a bit of everything from him, but when he's on form, he's world-class."

L.Rossi--NZN