Former England international Will Greenwood expects Ireland to beat the All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday night.
"Ireland have been the best team in the [Rugby World Cup] by a street," Greenwood said on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland.
"Magnificent demolition of Scotland. Defensively rock solid. Everything was class.
"New Zealand have been growing, had an indifferent 12 - 24 months, had some big results and massive disappointments. They got beat by [28 points] by South Africa three weeks before the World Cup.
"Then they were able to run riot against Uruguay. Damian McKenzie was running the show, and he probably won't even play [against Ireland]. Mo'unga will go in a 10, Jordie Barrett at 12 and then Beauden Barrett at the back. Rieko Ioane at 13, just ballers, proper, proper ballers."
16 July 2022; Robbie Henshaw of Ireland scores his side's third try during the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and the Ireland rugby team at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Last summer, Ireland beat the All Blacks for the first time on New Zealand soil.
"The reality is Ireland turned them over 2-1 in a three-test series over at their place last summer. I think they've got in their heads, " continued Greenwood.
"New Zealand fired some serious shots, were scoring points but you just think that no matter what New Zealand pull out on Saturday night, Ireland will find a way to counter-punch and absorb the pressure, soak it up, go back down the other end.
23 September 2023; Mack Hansen of Ireland celebrates with teammates Conor Murray and Hugo Keenan after scoring his side's first try during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and the Ireland rugby team at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
"This is New Zealand we're talking about. This is Ireland we're talking about. They haven't got past a quarter-final and New Zealand have got three trophies behind them and won in '11 and '15 but you just go through the Irish team and the way they performed against Scotland and South Africa, a Herculean battle that would be worthy of most previous finals... Ireland to win, Sexton to roll on.
"Andy Farrell, I love him. He just celebrates every penalty, every ruck. It's the sort of bloke you want in charge, 'I'll follow him', and they all are. It's an unbelievable story that's unfolding with Ireland.
"I'm just really glad that I like that Cranberries song because we're going to hear it again."
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