Clash of the titans.

The top two ranked teams in World Rugby are set to lock horns for the first time in two years this November, when Ireland host the mighty All Blacks in Dublin.

New Zealand have been on an excellent run of form of late, but their recent loss to the Springboks in Wellington has once again shown no team is unbeatable on any given day.

Ireland meanwhile are a team on the up, having won a Six Nations Grand Slam back in March, before going on to secure a first series victory over the Wallabies in Australia in nearly forty years back in June.

But who will emerge victorious in November? Ireland have proved time and time again they are a formidable outfit at home – but have only defeated the All Blacks once in their history (Chicago 2016).

Former Munster and Ireland outhalf Ronan O’Gara, who now coaches at New Zealand franchise the Crusaders – is backing his home country. He reckons home advantage, and the fact that New Zealand play England a week before Ireland could play a key role.

“New Zealand plays England the Saturday before Ireland. That’s two big games in a row and you have to remember these guys are touring, so will it be their full team and what combinations will they pick?” O’Gara told the Otago Daily Times.

“For the Home Nations, it is the biggest game after the Six Nations. When New Zealand come, that’s the one everyone wants to be at.”

“Home advantage is big. You’ll have 50,000 mad Irish people in there. If Ireland gets a start like they did the last time, I think they’ll finish the job this time.”

“But I would like to think New Zealand in their heads will be thinking ‘we can’t start the game like that or give away easy scores’.”

“It will be a great game, and tactically so interesting to see how both teams go about it.”