The Autumn Internationals Preview: Ireland

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Ireland Schedule

vs New Zealand – Sunday November 6, 4:00am HKT

vs Canada – Sunday November 13, 3:15am HKT

vs New Zealand – Sunday November 20, 1:30am HKT

vs Australia – Sunday November 27, 1:30am HKT

Johnny Sexton will be vital to Ireland's Autumn Internationals campaign as they face the All Blacks twice – first in Chicago, then two weeks later in Dublin – as well as Canada and the Wallabies.

What to look out for

For a while the Ireland centre pairing was Brian O’Driscoll and another person and that was enough. Some worried this would lead to some issues once the great man retired, however Ireland have discovered a rich seam of midfielders in recent times. Which two to choose from Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Stuart Olding, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall and the classy youngster Gary Ringrose is a nice problem to have for coach Joe Schmidt.

Strengths

Eoin Murray is one of the best scrum-halves around and his partnership with Johnny Sexton is both very strong and vital to Ireland’s chances.

Weaknesses

The scrum remains a problem and the options at fly-half should Jonny Sexton get injured look a bit like trying to decide whether to have your fingers crushed in a vice or hacked off with a rusty knife.

Coaching situation

Joe Schmidt, the great planner, details supremo and master of all he surveys remains at the helm. He is undoubtedly one of the best around but he has overseen something of a decline in fortunes in 2016.  He needs to address that this November.

Player to watch

Ultan Dillane. The athletic and dynamic Connacht lock can do everything: run, pass, hit and steal opposition lineout.

Best chance of an upset

Ireland famously nearly drew with the All Blacks in November 2013, with only a dubiously retaken conversion allowing New Zealand to snatch victory. Could they do it again? No, don’t be silly. And to make it worse some fool scheduled them to play the great black nightmare twice. They will fancy beating Australia, but that would barely qualify as an upset.

Prediction

The Mauling Episode 1 vs the All Blacks in Chicago; an easy win vs Canada; The Mauling Episode 2: The All Blacks Strike Again in Dublin; then a narrow win vs Australia.