Donal Lenihan: Underestimate All Blacks at your peril but Ireland bench strength should prove decisive

For all the talk, it’s difficult to escape the fact that this New Zealand side is nowhere near as composed or gifted as some of their immediate predecessors

Ireland's Josh van der Flier (centre) attempts to extricate himself from New Zealand pressure in the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter final

How good is this New Zealand side?

Ireland have won five of the last nine games between the sides, starting with that historic 40-29 breakthrough win in Chicago in 2016. That said, New Zealand not only came out on top in the most recent contest but the one you would trade all the rest for, a World Cup quarter-final win.