Ireland vs New Zealand Prediction: Sheehan to threaten Kiwis

Autumn international season has arrived for rugby union fans, and Saturday's marquee contest comes all the way from the Windy City of Chicago as the latest chapter in the Ireland vs New Zealand rivalry gets penned. There has been a real edge to this match-up ever since Ireland first tasted victory over the Kiwis at Soldier Field in 2016, with five wins each in the 10 Tests, including that landmark evening.

Ranked second and third in the world behind the Springboks, this latest showdown between New Zealand and Ireland is set for a 20:00 GMT start with live coverage on TNT Sports 2.  Below are my Ireland vs New Zealand predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds

Team News

Andy Farrell is back overseeing Ireland after his summer with the Lions, and he's got 11 of those tourists from the series success against the Wallabies in his starting XV.

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan will captain the team, while regular skipper Caelan Doris could make his return from injury at No. 8 off the bench after missing the Lions tour with a shoulder problem.

In-form Jack Crowley gets the nod at outside-half alongside Jamison Gibson-Park while Ulster's Stuart McCloskey is also rewarded as a form choice at centre, joining Garry Ringrose.

Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong join Sheehan in the front row, while James Ryan partners Tadhg Beirne at lock.

Jack Conan wears No. 8 with Josh van der Flier named on the openside flank and Ryan Baird at blindside. Tommy O'Brien and James Lowe are on the wings, while Jamie Osborne fills in at full-back in the absence of Hugo Keenan.

The Kiwis make three changes from the Rugby Championship win over Australia. Ethan de Groot returns from concussion to replace Tamaiti Williams at loosehead prop, joining Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell in the front row.

The two other changes come in the backline, with Beauden Barrett coming in at fly-half for Damian McKenzie, while Caleb Clarke starts in place of Leicester Fainga'anuku, who drops to the bench.

Leinster-bound Rieko Ioane, the pantomime villain in recent meetings, has been left out of the matchday squad.

Ireland vs New Zealand Odds

The All Blacks are favourites at 2/5 for the win in Chicago, while Ireland can be backed at 2/1, and the draw trades at 22/1.

The Irish are 20/21 in the handicap market with a six-point start, with New Zealand 10/11. Will Jordan is 9/1 to score the first try of the game, with Ireland's James Lowe 12/1.

Between 51 and 60 points inclusive @ 3/1

There isn't much between these teams on paper, and that should play out on the field, too. Arguably, the 2/1 on an Irish win is value, with the last 10 Tests between these rivals producing five wins each.

What is likely is an entertaining contest. Two of the previous three Tests have landed in the 51-60 points bracket, the exception being the November meeting in Dublin last year, when wet conditions and some poor Irish finishing contributed to New Zealand's 23-13 win and a lower points tally.

Three of the last seven meetings have finished in this scoring bracket, with two more missing out by one point, and the usual fare should be on offer in Chicago, so playing in the points market is preferable to predicting an outcome in what should be a close run thing.

Dan Sheehan anytime tryscorer @ 7/4

Dan Sheehan will skipper Ireland for the second time, and the Leinster hooker is a key factor in the success of Farrell's team.

He has touched down 15 times in green and showed his big-game mentality by scoring tries in two of the Lions' summer Tests in Australia.

He has scored nine tries in 12 Tests this calendar year and established himself as Ireland's most productive forward.

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