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Ireland vs New Zealand Predictions - All Blacks backed for comfortable win over Ireland
Ireland faces New Zealand in a USA-based match, with many predicting a New Zealand win despite fluctuating performances. Having recently played more matches than Ireland, New Zealand's form slightly edges out against an Irish team that seems to be struggling with consistency due to aging players. Historically even, the last two encounters were won by New Zealand, including a World Cup quarterfinal. This analysis suggests that New Zealand is likely to cover a -7.5 point spread, leveraging their recent dominance over Ireland.
- New Zealand favored to cover -7.5 against Ireland.
- Ireland's form dipping with an aging squad.
- New Zealand recently defeated Ireland twice.
Expired
New Zealand beat Ireland by 10 points in their last encounter (Getty Images)
Ireland vs New Zealand Predictions
Ireland are the “home” side but this game is being played in the USA. Counting in New Zealand’s favour is certainly that they have played a lot more rugby recently while Ireland have not really been together since the Six Nations.
- Ireland vs New Zealand Predictions
- Head to Head
- Ireland Form
- Ireland Injuries & Team News
- New Zealand Form
- New Zealand Injuries & Team News
Both sides have been up-and-down in 2025 but I am leaning on the All Blacks to cover -7.5 here. Ireland just don’t seem like the team they were in 2023 and before while the All Blacks have at least shown glimpses of form.
- New Zealand have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
- New Zealand have won their last 2 matches against Ireland.
- New Zealand covered the -7.5 handicap in their last match against Ireland.
- New Zealand have covered the -7.5 handicap in their last 2 matches.
- Ireland have won 6 of their last 7 matches.
Head to Head
Over the last five matches between these two nations, each has won five. The last two have gone in New Zealand’s favour. The All Blacks won their 2023 World Cup quarterfinal against the Irish and then last year beat Ireland 23-13 at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland Form
Ireland’s form has been very patchy in 2025 with many feeling that they are starting to drop in quality as the golden generation starts ageing and retire. In the Six Nations this year, Ireland could only manage a third-place finish, although they did only lose one match.
The Irish opened their Six Nations campaign with a 27-22 home win over England before beating Scotland 32-18 away. A nine-point win away to Wales followed but just as they were looking to defend their title, lost to France 42-27 at home.
Ireland ended the campaign with a 22-17 away win over Italy but while they only lost once, their performances in a few of the other games were quite poor. During the July Test window, most of Ireland’s top players were in the British & Irish Lions squad, so their big wins over Georgia and Portugal came thanks to a largely second-string side.
Ireland Injuries & Team News
15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Bundee Aki.
New Zealand Form
New Zealand rugby is in quite a strange place at the moment. They have been quite inconsistent since Scott Robertson took over after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Many nations would envy the All Blacks poor or rather, inconsistent form, but it is very unusual for the usually dominant New Zealanders. They are still a very good side, of that there is no doubt, but they just don’t seem to have that attacking edge they’ve become famous for.
During the recent Rugby Championship, the All Blacks finished second behind South Africa, but only on points difference. New Zealand won one and lost one in Argentina before returning home to beat the Springboks at Eden Park.
However, the following week, in Wellington, New Zealand suffered a record-breaking 43-10 defeat to South Africa. The All Blacks did bounce back to beat Australia home and away in the final two games, but even those performances were suspect at times.
New Zealand Injuries & Team News
15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Verdict
New Zealand are backed to cover -7.5 against Ireland.
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