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If there are two elements
New Zealand will summon up for their heavyweight quarter-final against Ireland, they are superior
World Cup experience and fearless spark.
On paper Ireland have reason to believe. Their New Zealand-born coach, Joe Schmidt, has the much more settled side, with Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray starting their 56th Test together, while 12 of this
Irish team started in their defeat of the All Blacks in
Dublin 12 months ago. That 16-9 victory was Ireland’s second over the world champions in the past three attempts.