Holder NZ take on Ireland as Australia and England set for ‘do or die’ clash

Defending world champions New Zealand are ready to conquer their quarter-final nerves and seize the slightest opportunity when they take on Ireland on Saturday, a side that has beaten them twice in their last three meetings.

All Blacks captain Kieran Read said the fact his side hadn’t played since an academic run-out against Namibia on Oct. 6, with their final pool match against Italy cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis, would count for little.

“We’ve trained as well as we can and we’re in a great position to go out there and perform on the field,” said the talismanic number eight, who will retire from international rugby after the World Cup.

“We know how close the games have been over the last few years and it’s an exciting challenge.”

Ireland, under Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt, have been a mixed bag in Japan and were beaten by the hosts before eventually recovering to finish as Pool A runners-up.

But New Zealand are aware of the danger they pose after their recent defeats, including in Dublin last year when Jacob Stockdale’s try from a moment of improvisation proved the difference between the two teams.

“You know the Irish are a really good side,” Read said. “Perhaps they haven’t played to their potential through this World Cup but in a World Cup game, it’s whoever turns up on the day and it could only be a couple of opportunities that present themselves for either side.

“A finals game will certainly bring you a little bit more nerves, a little bit more pressure.”

Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams will start on the bench and fellow centre Ryan Crotty misses out altogether as coach Steve Hansen named in-form Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue in midfield. Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett starts at full-back.

Schmidt drafted in Robbie Henshaw to replace Bundee Aki, banned for three matches for a high tackle in their final pool game against Samoa, at inside centre.

Veteran Rory Best will skipper the team from hooker, with the experienced duo of Conor Murray and World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton named at half-back.

“We’re in a reasonably good spot,” said Best. “Ultimately, it’s all about Saturday -- it’s all about which team can turn up and implement their game plan best and deal with the pressure of knockout rugby.”

Meanwhile, rival coaches Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika have both sprung selection surprises heading into a “do or die” quarter-final between England and Australia but there are sound reasons behind their dramatic decisions.

Jones has dropped in-form fly-half George Ford to the bench for Saturday’s crunch game in Oita, with captain Owen Farrell moving from inside centre to stand-off.

Farrell, however, has plenty of Test experience at fly-half, where he plays for English and European champions Saracens.

By moving Farrell, Jones can pair Manu Tuilagi and the fit-again Henry Slade in midfield, a combination of power and guile he deployed during the Six Nations that also offers increased defensive solidity in an area of the pitch where Australia are strong in attack.

And should England need him to close out the match, they still have the option of bringing Ford off the bench.

Jones, a consultant to the South Africa side that won the 2007 World Cup and the coach of Japan when they stunned the Springboks in England four years ago, knows better than most about the demands of knockout Rugby.

And with his four-year reign as England coach hinging on the team’s progress at Japan 2019, the Australian said: “No one has won a World Cup after losing a game and there’s a reason for that.

With powerhouse number eight Billy Vunipola recovered from an ankle injury, England will hope “kamikaze kids” Tom Curry and Sam Underhill can star at the battle of the breakdown against celebrated Australia duo Michael Hooper and David Pocock.

Agence France-Presse