The Irish team and All Blacks Prepared for Chicago Showdown

Autumn Nations Series: Irish vs All Blacks

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago Fixture: Saturday, 1 November Start time: 20:10 GMT

As they return to the venue of one of their historic wins, Ireland stand with a mission to accomplish.

Nine years ago, they were generally underestimated before facing the All Blacks in a Chicago blockbuster at Soldier Field.

It was hardly surprising. New Zealand were world champions and in the middle of an 18 consecutive victories, while they boasted 27 victories and a draw from 28 previous meetings with the Irish.

Looking back at that week nine years on, hooker Codie Taylor this week conceded the All Blacks got "swept away" in the hubbub created by the Chicago Cubs' first baseball World Series win in 108 years.

For Ireland, the team concentrated fully and set about lifting their own 111-year drought.

The culmination was a first win over the All Blacks after 111 years of competing, a day that transformed the direction of Irish rugby and ignited an fierce and compelling contest between the sides.

Although beating the All Blacks this weekend would not be as transformative as it was in 2016, it would be the ideal manner for Ireland to disprove those who view them as a waning team.

Andy Farrell, defence coach under Joe Schmidt in 2016, has accomplished a great deal as Ireland head coach, not least the 2022 series victory on New Zealand soil that added more fire to a burgeoning rivalry.

But, having come back to his day job after his time away with the British and Irish Lions, Farrell has been bothered by suggestions that he leads an older and underprepared Irish squad heading into an November tests that also includes home matches against Japan, Australia and South Africa.

However, there is no denying that Ireland are at an interesting juncture two years out from the World Cup in Australia.

In Farrell's time away, they relinquished the Six Nations title after a decisive and humbling home defeat by France.

Farrell brought a historic number of Irish players on the Lions tour, the aftermath from which has left several players with only one United Rugby Championship game to their name this season.

Ireland's readiness have not been assisted by fitness concerns to crucial team members, too, with established performers Hugo Keenan, Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen among those missing.

With Ireland's frontline side having not played together since the Six Nations win over Italy in March, Farrell has been preparing with his squad in Chicago since 21 October.

And, having scrutinised his players over the past 10 days, he has opted to fill his team with in-form athletes.

Jack Crowley, who gave up the fly-half jersey to Sam Prendergast a year ago, is reinstated on the back of a strong start to the season with Munster, while Stuart McCloskey and Tommy O'Brien are merited selections at inside centre and right wing.

In the pack, Farrell has given Ryan Baird another opportunity to prove he can be a established loose forward.

Farrell has also signaled his more veteran squad members of the emerging talent by selecting Paddy McCarthy on the bench.

Earlier this week, Farrell said the 22-year-old prop has been on his consideration since excelling for the under-20s in a training session against the senior side a couple of years ago and, while he is only five weeks since his first Leinster start, Farrell clearly thinks he is ready to sample the top tier.

As Caelan Doris on the bench after recovering from shoulder surgery, Farrell has entrusted Dan Sheehan with the captaincy.

The 27-year-old hooker captained Ireland against Wales in this year's Six Nations and skippered the Lions against Western Force in June, securing victories in both matches.

Sheehan said the current group repeating the 2016 win would be "among the top" in this squad's list of accomplishments.

"The 2016 achievement, we've mentioned it a bit, that was a bit of a memorable occasion for every Irish sports fan," he said.

"Significant moments, everyone has a remembrance of where they were and how special that day was.

"Obviously we've had some big battles against New Zealand over the years since then, so I think everyone's pretty excited to almost experience that day in 2016 and for the return fixture."

New Zealand are aiming for a hat-trick of wins over Ireland - after narrowly winning an memorable 2023 World Cup quarter-final in Paris before securing a deserved 23-13 victory in Dublin last year.

The All Blacks are definitely more seasoned than Ireland, with a Test series against France and the Rugby Championship meaning them playing nine times since the start of July.

New Zealand have finished second to South Africa in the Rugby Championship over the past two years and, while head coach Scott Robertson has his detractors, they remain a powerful counter-attacking team packed with match-winning talent.

Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett's comeback at fly-half is a significant advantage for Robertson, while Ardie Savea has been brilliant against Ireland in the past.

And in Will Jordan the All Blacks have one of the game's deadliest finishers. The 27-year-old usually excels against Ireland, too, with five of his 43 Test tries registered versus Farrell's side.

Ireland have a reputation to defend. New Zealand have a historic loss to avenge.

Given the United States set to host the World Cup in 2031, there is no bad time to drum up interest in rugby, and this American reunion between two of the sport's powerhouses has all the right ingredients.

Ireland will certainly not be lacking in support, with emerald shirts visible all over the city center on Friday night.

Their attendance at Soldier Field will recall memories of that Paris quarter-final. It was not enough to propel Ireland over the line then. Whether it does the trick in Chicago for the return engagement is yet to be determined.

Ireland: J Osborne; T O'Brien, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan (capt), T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Replacements: R Kelleher, P McCarthy, F Bealham, I Henderson, C Doris, C Casey, S Prendergast, B Aki.

New Zealand: W Jordan; L Carter, Q Tupaea, J Barrett, C Clarke; B Barrett, C Roigard; E De Groot, C Taylor, F Newell, S Barrett (capt), F Holland, S Parker, A Savea, P Lakai.

Replacements: S Taukei'aho, T Williams, P Tosi, J Lord, W Sititi, C Ratima, L Fainga'anuku, D McKenzie.