Ireland vs New Zealand Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips: Back Keenan for a Try

Ireland will start their Autumn Internationals campaign this Friday by hosting the All Blacks, the biggest and most historic name in rugby. New Zealand were lucky to defeat England at Twickenham last week after scoring a late try and watching on as England's George Ford hit the post with a penalty and then put his drop goal wide of the posts.

This match starts at 8:10pm in the Aviva Stadium and can be watched live on TNT Sports.

Ireland will still remember the heartbreak this New Zealand side caused them at last year's Rugby World Cup. Once again, New Zealand dumped them out in the quarter-finals, a stage they have somehow never once got past.

There was a time when New Zealand dominated this fixture, winning the first 28 games until Ireland finally beat them in 2016. Since then, this fixture has been relatively even, with Ireland winning five of the last nine encounters, and they will go into this one feeling like they have a good chance of getting revenge on the All Blacks.

Leinster fullback Hugo Keenan has been an essential part of this Irish side for years. He scored a try against New Zealand in 2022, and I am backing the 28-year-old to find himself on the scoresheet again this Friday at odds of 15/4.

Although New Zealand are not the same side they once were this should still be a tight game. In 3 of the last 5 games between these two sides, the margin of victory has been ten points or lower, and I expect that to be the same again this week.

Although I expect Ireland to win this game, New Zealand did show great resilience against England last week. It proved that they can still produce strong performances against tough opposition. With that in mind, I would be very surprised if this game was won by over ten points. 

I am predicting that Ireland will win this match by a margin of 1-10 points which can be backed at 39/20.