
Ireland vs New Zealand Betting Tips: Predictions for huge quarter final

Many online have been decrying the length of time it has taken the Rugby World Cup to get through the Pool Stage and onto the good stuff; the knock-out rounds. Mercifully, the minnows have all been sent packing after a few hidings and even some spirited underdog stories, and the behemoths now begin to clash in winner-take-all clashes for a place in the semi-finals.
Ireland are current favourites to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first time, but after overcoming South Africa in Pool B they face another gargantuan opponent in the quarter finals thanks to the lopsided draw: The All Blacks. Billy Grimshaw is expecting a game for the ages and has two tips…
Make no mistake about it, this is the greatest Irish rugby team of all time. Many throughout the storied history of the Emerald Isle could lay claim to this honour in the past, but none have been ranked best in the world and frankly none could live with the awesome side Andy Farrell has so masterfully crafted. In their history a quarter final place is the furthest any Irish side has gone in a Rugby World Cup, so this class of 2023 must defy history in Saint-Denis.
Standing in their way are a side for whom a quarter final exit would, instead of being their greatest ever finish, prompt a root and branch review into this level of failure. New Zealand are the name one thinks of when international rugby union is discussed and the All Blacks will not be giving up their chance to become the winning most national side in World Cup history with four. This game, unlike the bruising battle Ireland won against South Africa, looks sure to be a match in which the ball is in play a lot and tries should be plentiful. This iteration of the All Blacks are not as squeaky clean and polished as some of their predecessors; they will make mistakes and give you chances.
What they will also do, however, is punish any weakness with ruthless efficiency. Ireland will probably dominate possession and perhaps even territory here but the All Blacks of 2023 only need one chance to put seven points on the board. There is strike all over the field for them and at the breakdown they will attempt to force Ireland into rushed decisions. Ireland's kicking game in particular will have to be perfect here if they are to keep New Zealand at bay, but luckily they have just the man for the job captaining the side.
Ireland vs New Zealand Tips
New Zealand are not used to being underdogs in any rugby game, but to be classed as the least likely winner in a quarter final will be something novel for the All Blacks. Ireland are of course the world number one side in the rankings and after being a tad disrespected in the odds pre-tournament they now sit as joint favourites after besting the Springboks in the pool stages. Irish fans will have breathed a sigh of relief to see starting wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe confirmed as fit to play, while Caelan Doris comes in at number eight for the injured James Ryan.
New Zealand’s flying winger Mark Telea has fallen foul of the All Blacks strict team protocol and despite a brilliant tournament so far has been dropped, which while an admirable show of the firmness New Zealand Rugby demand, certainly boosts Ireland’s chances of victory. The bookmakers are struggling to split the sides but with Ireland marginal favourites, I think there is potential that they repeat the job France did on the All Blacks in game one and win this game by a bigger margin than many expect.
Betting Sites have priced the game to a 2 point handicap at evens and taking an Irish win by 3 or more points in what promises to be a belter will be my main selection. BoyleSports are dangling the -2 evens carrot and so it is with them I will be betting myself, as this Irish side prove once and for all that they have the minerals to go all the way. A huge factor in the winning and losing of this match will be how well Ireland can complete to the standard their coach Andy Farrell demands. If they can stay relatively error free and not give cheap penalties away to New Zealand, their superb defensive structure can hold out the All Blacks even with their prowess with the ball.
New Zealand expect to beat Ireland and will not give two hoots about the world rankings. The All Blacks can never be regarded as arrogant but the weight of history is firmly on their side here, however I think in Farrell Ireland have the perfect man at the helm to shatter the glass ceiling of which nation 'should' beat another when push comes to shove. This Ireland team are a phenomenal rugby side and their time is now, so backing them to make a statement here with a win over the All Blacks before surely booking a place in their first ever final in next week's semi looks the way to go.
This will undoubtedly be the last time we see Johnny Sexton at a Rugby World Cup. The veteran fly half and record Irish caps holder, points scorer and almost everything else is 38 now and is retiring post tournament. Man Of The Match markets are often narrative based but with this game promising to put pressure on kickers like never before, the golden boot of Sexton could dominate the match. He has the narrative on his side and he has the stand out skill that could genuinely determine the game, so William Hill offering 10/1 about Sexton scooping the award in the aftermath of a famous Irish win looks too good to turn down.
A further reason to back this pick in the side markets is the potential for a narrow New Zealand win still leading to an Irishman winning Man Of The Match. This would perhaps take Sexton being Ireland's sole points poster or simply an inspirationally gallant display in defence in defeat, but I don't think it is out of the question. If Ireland were to lose then obviously that would be the final time we see Sexton donning the famous green jersey and indeed setting foot on a rugby pitch in a playing capacity.
With two routes to success for this bet, the emotional and the logical, I think the 10/1 on offer with Hills is a superb price and the other firms with Sexton as their favourite at 7s are more in line with reality.