15 Oct 2019

Rugby World Cup: All Blacks, Irish both confident of win

From Checkpoint, 6:25 pm on 15 October 2019

The All Blacks and Irish are both bullish about their chances of winning this weekend's quarter-final in Tokyo, despite the bookies leaning heavily in favour of the defending champs.

Ireland have beaten New Zealand twice since 2016, and their Kiwi-born coach Joe Schmidt's record against Steve Hansen is two wins, two losses each including Ireland's first win on home soil at the end of last year.

The Irish have lost star-centre Bundee Aki for the rest of the World Cup due to his suspension for a high tackle in their win over Samoa, but they're embracing the underdog status while the All Blacks will be confident but wary of being labelled heavy favourites.

Rugby reporter Joe Porter has just got out of the latest All Blacks press conference fronted by assistant coach Ian Foster, and forwards Matt Todd, Ardie Savea, Joe Moody and Dane Coles.