Head-To-Head: Ireland v New Zealand

Head-To-Head: Ireland v New Zealand

Saturday's clash between New Zealand and Ireland is the 21st meeting between these proud rugby nations. Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks - 1973's 10-10 draw is their best result in the series - so can Brian O'Driscoll and company create history at the 'Cake Tin'?
Saturday's clash between New Zealand and Ireland is the 21st meeting between these proud rugby nations. Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks - 1973's 10-10 draw is their best result in the series - so can Brian O'Driscoll and company create history at the 'Cake Tin'?

SUMMER TOUR TEST MATCH: Saturday, June 7

NEW ZEALAND v IRELAND, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, kick-off 7.35pm local time/8.35am Irish time (live Sky Sports 1/RTE Radio LW252/Digital/Radio 1 Extra Stream)

NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina; Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Andy Ellis; Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, John Schwalger, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.

IRELAND: Rob Kearney; Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Paddy Wallace, Tommy Bowe; Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Rory Best, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Shane Jennings, Peter Stringer, Geordan Murphy, Girvan Dempsey.

Referee: Chris White (England)

Previous Meetings: 20
New Zealand Won: 19; Ireland Won: 0; Drawn: 1
First Match: New Zealand 15 Ireland 0, Dublin, November 15, 1905
Last Match: New Zealand 27 Ireland 17, Auckland, June 17, 2006

Last Five Meetings: 2002 - New Zealand 15 Ireland 6, Dunedin; New Zealand 40 Ireland 8, Auckland; 2005 - Ireland 7 New Zealand 45, Dublin; 2006 - New Zealand 34 Ireland 23, Hamilton; New Zealand 27 Ireland 17, Auckland

Recent Form: New Zealand - Won 76-14 v Italy (RWC); Won 108-13 v Portugal (RWC); Won 40-0 v Scotland (RWC); Won 85-8 v Romania (RWC); Lost 20-18 v France (RWC quarter-final)
Ireland - Won 16-11 v Italy (6N); Lost 26-21 v France (6N); Won 34-13 v Scotland (6N); Lost 16-12 v Wales (6N); Lost 33-10 v England (6N)

Biggest Winning Margin: New Zealand 53 points (59-6, Wellington, 1992)
Longest Winning Streak: 14 matches (1974 to 2006)

Best Ireland Result: 10-10, Dublin, 1973
Total Test Points: New Zealand 517; Ireland 199

Highest Score: New Zealand: 63 in 1997; Ireland: 29 in 2001
Biggest Margin: New Zealand: 53 in 1992; Ireland: 0 in 1973
Most Tries: New Zealand: 11 in 1992; Ireland: 3 in 2001

Leading Points Scorers (In Current Squad): New Zealand - Dan Carter 676 points; Ireland - Ronan O'Gara 827 points

Leading Try Scorers (In Current Squad): New Zealand - Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu 21 each, Mils Muliaina 16; Ireland - Brian O'Driscoll 31, Shane Horgan 20, Girvan Dempsey 19, Geordan Murphy 18