Head-To-Head: Ireland v New Zealand

A statistical preview of Saturday’s GUINNESS Series showdown between Ireland and World champions New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm).

2016 GUINNESS SERIES: Saturday, November 19

IRELAND v NEW ZEALAND, Aviva Stadium, 5.30pm (live RTÉ 2/Sky Sports 2 HD/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog)

IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster), Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).

Replacements: Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster).

NEW ZEALAND: Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders); Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay/Crusaders), Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland/Highlanders), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs), Julian Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes); Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes), Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders); Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders), Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes), Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders), Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Kieran Read (Canterbury/Crusaders) (capt).

Replacements: Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury/Crusaders), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland/Blues), Scott Barrett (Canterbury/Crusaders), Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes), TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu/Chiefs), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders).

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Ian Davies (Wales)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)

Head-to-Head:

Played – 29
Ireland Won – 1
New Zealand Won – 27
Drawn – 1

Ireland v New Zealand: IRFU Stats Vault

Previous Meetings:

Saturday, November 25, 1905 – Tour Match – Ireland 0 New Zealand 15, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, November 1, 1924 – Tour Match – Ireland 0 New Zealand 6, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, December 7, 1935 – Tour Match – Ireland 9 New Zealand 17, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, January 9, 1954 – Tour Match – Ireland 3 New Zealand 14, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, December 7, 1963 – Tour Match – Ireland 5 New Zealand 6, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, January 20, 1973 – Tour Match – Ireland 10 New Zealand 10, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, November 23, 1974 – Tour Match – Ireland 6 New Zealand 15, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, June 5, 1976 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 11 Ireland 3, Athletic Park
Saturday, November 4, 1978 – Tour Match – Ireland 6 New Zealand 10, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, November 18, 1989 – Tour Match – Ireland 6 New Zealand 23, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, May 30, 1992 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 24 Ireland 21, Carisbrook
Saturday, June 6, 1992 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 59 Ireland 6, Athletic Park
Saturday, May 27, 1995 – Rugby World Cup – Ireland 19 New Zealand 43, Ellis Park
Saturday, November 15, 1997 – Autumn Test – Ireland 15 New Zealand 63, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, November 17, 2001 – Autumn Test – Ireland 29 New Zealand 40, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, June 15, 2002 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 15 Ireland 6, Carisbrook
Saturday, June 22, 2002 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 40 Ireland 8, Eden Pak
Saturday, November 12, 2005 – Autumn Test – Ireland 7 New Zealand 45, Lansdowne Road
Saturday, June 10, 2006 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 34 Ireland 23, Waikato Stadium
Saturday, June 17, 2006 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 27 Ireland 17, Eden Park
Saturday, June 7, 2008 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 21 Ireland 11, Westpac Stadium
Saturday, November 15, 2008 – Autumn Test – Ireland 3 New Zealand 22, Croke Park
Saturday, June 12, 2010 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 66 Ireland 28, Yarrow Stadium
Saturday, November 20, 2010 – Autumn Test – Ireland 18 New Zealand 38, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, June 9, 2012 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 42 Ireland 10, Eden Park
Saturday, June 16, 2012 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 22 Ireland 19, AMI Stadium
Saturday, June 23, 2012 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 60 Ireland 0, Waikato Stadium
Saturday, November 24, 2013 – Autumn Test – Ireland 22 New Zealand 24, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, November 5, 2016 – Autumn Test – Ireland 40 New Zealand 29, Soldier Field, Chicago

Biggest Wins And Margins:

Ireland: Points: 40-29, 2016 Autumn Test; Margin: 40-29, 2016 Autumn Test

New Zealand: Points: 66-28, Summer Test; Margin: 60-0, 2012 Third Test

Individual Records In The Series:

Most Points In A Match: Ireland 14 (David Humphreys, 2001 Autumn Test); New Zealand 33 (Andrew Mehrtens, 1997 Autumn Test)

Most Tries In A Match: Ireland 2 (Keith Wood, 1997 Autumn Test; Vinny Cunningham, 1992 First Test); New Zealand 3 (Julian Savea, 2012 First Test)

Most Appearances – Ireland v New Zealand:

14 – Richie McCaw
13 – Brian O’Driscoll
12 – Ronan O’Gara
10 – Donncha O’Callaghan
9 – Rory Best, John Hayes, Rob Kearney
8 – Jamie Heaslip, Andrew Hore, Peter Stringer

Top Points Scorers – Ireland v New Zealand:

87 – Dan Carter
81 – Andrew Mehrtens
46 – Jonathan Sexton
38 – Ronan O’Gara
36 – Luke McAlister
25 – Doug Howlett

Top Try Scorers – Ireland v New Zealand:

5 – Frank Bunce, Doug Howlett
4 – Julian Savea
3 – Jonah Lomu, Leon MacDonald, Conor Murray, Brian O’Driscoll, Glen Osborne, Kieran Read, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Sam Whitelock

Ireland – Form Guide From Start Of The 2015 Six Nations:

Won 26-3 v Italy away (Six Nations)
Won 18-11 v France home (Six Nations)
Won 19-9 v England home (Six Nations)
Lost 23-16 v Wales away (Six Nations)
Won 40-10 v Scotland away (Six Nations)
Won 35-21 v Wales away (World Cup Warm-Up)
Won 28-22 v Scotland home (World Cup Warm-Up)
Lost 16-10 v Wales home (World Cup Warm-Up)
Lost 21-13 v England away (World Cup Warm-Up)
Won 50-7 v Canada neutral (World Cup Pool D)
Won 44-10 v Romania neutral (World Cup Pool D)
Won 16-9 v Italy neutral (World Cup Pool D)
Won 24-9 v France neutral (World Cup Pool D)
Lost 43-20 v Argentina neutral (World Cup Quarter-Final)
Drew 16-16 v Wales home (Six Nations)
Lost 10-9 v France away (Six Nations)
Lost 21-10 v England away (Six Nations)
Won 58-15 v Italy home (Six Nations)
Won 35-25 v Scotland home (Six Nations)
Won 26-20 v South Africa away (Summer Tour)
Lost 32-26 v South Africa away (Summer Tour)
Lost 19-13 v South Africa away (Summer Tour)
Won 40-29 v New Zealand neutral (Autumn Test)
Won 52-21 v Canada home (GUINNESS Series)

New Zealand – Form Guide From Start Of The 2015 Rugby Championship:

Won 39-18 v Argentina home (Rugby Championship)
Won 27-20 v South Africa away (Rugby Championship)
Lost 27-19 v Australia away (Rugby Championship)
Won 41-13 v Australia home (Bledisloe Cup)
Won 26-16 v Argentina neutral (World Cup Pool C)
Won 58-14 v Namibia neutral (World Cup Pool C)
Won 43-10 v Georgia neutral (World Cup Pool C)
Won 47-9 v Tonga neutral (World Cup Pool C)
Won 62-13 v France neutral (World Cup Quarter-Final)
Won 20-18 v South Africa neutral (World Cup Semi-Final)
Won 34-17 v Australia neutral (World Cup Final)
Won 39-21 v Wales home (Summer Series)
Won 36-22 v Wales home (Summer Series)
Won 46-6 v Wales home (Summer Series)
Won 42-8 v Australia away (Rugby Championship)
Won 29-9 v Australia home (Rugby Championship)
Won 57-22 v Argentina home (Rugby Championship)
Won 41-13 v South Africa home (Rugby Championship)
Won 36-17 v Argentina away (Rugby Championship)
Won 57-15 v South Africa away (Rugby Championship)
Won 37-10 v Australia home (Bledisloe Cup)
Lost 40-29 v Ireland neutral (Autumn Tour)
Won 68-10 v Italy away (Autumn Tour)

Ireland – Most-Capped Players:

133 Brian O’Driscoll
128 Ronan O’Gara
108 Paul O’Connell
105 John Hayes
98 Rory Best
98 Peter Stringer
94 Donncha O’Callaghan
92 Malcolm O’Kelly
89 Jamie Heaslip
82 Gordon D’Arcy
82 Girvan Dempsey
72 David Humphreys
72 David Wallace
72 Geordan Murphy
71 Eoin Reddan
70 Rob Kearney
70 Kevin Maggs
69 Mike Gibson

Ireland – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

1083 Ronan O’Gara
584 Jonathan Sexton
560 David Humphreys
308 Michael Kiernan
296 Eric Elwood
245 Brian O’Driscoll
217 Ollie Campbell
158 Tom Kiernan
150 Tommy Bowe

Ireland – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

46 Brian O’Driscoll
30 Tommy Bowe
29 Denis Hickie
21 Shane Horgan
19 Girvan Dempsey
18 Keith Earls
18 Geordan Murphy
17 Brendan Mullin
17 Andrew Trimble
16 Ronan O’Gara
15 Kevin Maggs
15 Keith Wood
14 George Stephenson
13 Jamie Heaslip
13 Rob Kearney
12 Keith Crossan
12 David Wallace

New Zealand – Most-Capped Players:

148 Richie McCaw
132 Keven Mealamu
118 Tony Woodcock
112 Dan Carter
103 Ma’a Nonu
100 Mils Muliaina
95 Kieran Read
94 Conrad Smith
92 Sean Fitzpatrick
88 Owen Franks
83 Andrew Hore
82 Sam Whitelock
81 Justin Marshall
79 Ian Jones
77 Ali Williams
76 Jerome Kaino
74 Tana Umaga
71 Piri Weepu
70 Andrew Mehrtens

New Zealand – All-Time Leading Points Scorers:

1598 Dan Carter
967 Andrew Mehrtens
645 Grant Fox
322 Aaron Cruden
291 Carlos Spencer
272 Beauden Barrett
245 Doug Howlett
236 Christian Cullen
234 Jeff Wilson
230 Joe Rokocoko

New Zealand – All-Time Leading Try Scorers:

49 Doug Howlett
46 Christian Cullen
46 Joe Rokocoko
45 Julian Savea
44 Jeff Wilson
37 Jonah Lomu
36 Tana Umaga
35 John Kirwan
34 Mils Muliaina
29 Dan Carter
29 Sitiveni Sivivatu

World Rugby All-Time Top Points Scorers:

1598 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
1246 Jonny Wilkinson (1179-England, 67-Lions)
1090 Neil Jenkins (1049-Wales, 41-Lions)
1083 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland)
1010 Diego Dominguez (27-Argentina, 983-Italy)
970 Stephen Jones (917-Wales, 53-Lions)
967 Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand)
911 Michael Lynagh (Australia)
893 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
878 Matt Burke (Australia)
809 Chris Paterson (Scotland)

World Rugby All-Time Top Try Scorers:

66 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
64 David Campese (Australia)
60 Shane Williams (58-Wales, 2-Lions)
50 Rory Underwood (49-England, 1-Lions)
49 Doug Howlett (New Zealand)
47 Brian O’Driscoll (46-Ireland, 1-Lions)
46 Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
46 Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)
45 Julian Savea (New Zealand)
44 Jeff Wilson (New Zealand)
41 Gareth Thomas (40-Wales, 1-Lions)
40 Chris Latham (Australia)

(Note: Daisuke Ohata scored 69 tries for Japan, but not all against major international opposition)

The ‘100 Caps’ Club:

148 Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
141 Brian O’Driscoll (133-Ireland, 8-Lions)
139 George Gregan (Australia)
133 Gethin Jenkins (128-Wales, 5-Lions)
132 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
130 Ronan O’Gara (128-Ireland, 2-Lions)
127 Victor Matfield (South Africa)
123 Bryan Habana (South Africa)
120 Sergio Parisse (Italy)
119 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
119 Jason Leonard (114-England, 5-Lions)
118 Fabien Pelous (France)
118 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
116 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
116 Nathan Sharpe (Australia)
115 Paul O’Connell (108-Ireland, 7-Lions)
114 Stephen Moore (Australia)
112 Marco Bortolami (Italy)
112 Dan Carter (New Zealand)
111 Philippe Sella (France)
111 John Smit (South Africa)
111 George Smith (Australia)
110 Stephen Jones (104-Wales, 6-Lions)
109 Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
109 Alun Wyn Jones (103-Wales, 6-Lions)
109 Chris Paterson (Scotland)
107 John Hayes (105-Ireland, 2-Lions)
106 Mauro Bergamasco (Italy)
105 Sean Lamont (Scotland)
104 Martyn Williams (100-Wales, 4-Lions)
103 Matt Giteau (Australia)
103 Andrea Lo Cicero (Italy)
103 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
103 Gareth Thomas (100-Wales, 3-Lions)
102 Stephen Larkham (Australia)
102 Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
101 David Campese (Australia)
101 Ross Ford (100-Scotland, 1-Lions)
101 Alessandro Troncon (Italy)
101 Vasco Uva (Portugal)
100 Adam Jones (95-Wales, 5-Lions)
100 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)