New Zealand vs Ireland Prediction & Betting Tips - Test Matchs

Prediction published on 06/07/2022, 13:29  by Indran in Rugby Predictions

New Zealand welcomes Ireland to the Forsyth Barr Stadium for the second test of the three match series. The hosts comfortably won 42-19 in the first test although the scoreline flattered the home team. New Zealand were under pressure coming into the first test as they had lost three of their previous five tests against Ireland. The important factor in all three losses was that those matches were all played away from home. The All Blacks were severely tested in the first match but relied on their brilliant defence to keep the Irish attack at bay. The turning point of the match was when Irish talisman and Captain Johnny Sexton had to leave the field with a head injury. New Zealand are unbeaten in their last eight home matches and have never lost a home test match against Ireland. They will be keen to keep that record intact come the final hooter in this match.

Ireland will be boosted by the news that Captain Jonny Sexton has been declared fit for this match. The visitors are a totally different team when he is on the field and they will need him for the full 80 mins if they are to have any chance of beating the home team. Ireland have not made a good start to their tour as they were comprehensively beaten by both the NZ Maori team and the All Blacks senior team. They dominated ball possession in the first test but had massive difficulty crossing the New Zealand tryline. Ireland will also need to cut out their handling errors as there is no better team in world rugby at scoring from turnover ball than the All Blacks.