There's a big following for the Ireland team in Chicago.

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This New Zealand team are playing another game from the rest of the world.

They have won 18 straight Tests - a record for a top-tier nation - a run that stretches back to last year's second-successive World Cup triumph.

The All Blacks are 22-1 ON to beat Ireland today. The bookmakers believe that a 24-point defeat for Ireland is par.

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Ireland captain Rory Best has said that he would not be tempted to replicate predecessor's Willie Anderson's famous advance on the All Blacks' haka in 1989, even if there was no ban on such challenges.

"For us as players though, it's a sideshow," he said.

"Some people will watch it, respect it. Other people will be looking at it but in their own head they'll be rehearsing their own roles."

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The two teams are meeting in Chicago - a city still sobering up from its baseball team's historic World Series win earlier this week. 

The greatest team in the sport's history playing against Ireland in a city known for its Emerald Isle roots though should ensure that a decent number of the 61,000-odd seats are filled come kick off.

Judging by Soldier Field's TicketMaster site, it is a virtual sell-out. 

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That terrific scrap at the Aviva Stadium in 2013 was not the first time in recent years that the All Blacks have been run close by Ireland.

It took a last-minute drop goal from Dan Carter to clinch a slim 22-19 win for the hosts in Christchurch in 2012.

Will Joe Schmidt's class of 2016 finally get over the line and smash the Kiwi hoodoo?

We are about to find out.

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111 years or a matter of seconds?

How close Ireland have got to beating New Zealand is a matter of perspective.

On one hand, Ireland have spent more than a century trying and failing since the All Blacks' 15-0 win at Lansdowne Road in 1905.

On the other, Ireland led 22-17 in the 82nd minute of the teams' most recent meeting, only for Ryan Crotty to cross for a dramatic late score and Aaron Cruden to land a retaken conversion.

Image source, Rex Features

It is onwards and, hopefully, upwards for Wales who play Argentina, Japan and South Africa over the next three weekends.

While South Africa lead the Barbarians 19-17 early in the second half at Twickenham, we are going to take a break and return on this page to bring you live text coverage of New Zealand v Ireland in Chicago from 19:30 GMT.

See you back here then.

Wales had the ball but then this happened...

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Wales captain Gethin Jenkins: "We didn't get our hands on the ball in the first half. We made errors and they punished us. It's always an uphill task to get back into the game but full credit to Australia.

"I thought we were comfortable with the intensity but just made silly mistakes, and there were some good attacks from them. We forced it a bit too much in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

"We showed some good spirit at the end but we lost the game in the first half. We have to look where we went wrong."

There are some eyesore statistics coming out of this match.

Wales had 31% possession and 20% territory in that chastening first half.

Across the whole match, Australia made 646 metres to Wales' 265.

Australia captain Stephen Moore: "You never know how much possession you are going to get and I think we threw it away a bit. It is the first game of the tour so it was pleasing. We attacked well and it is a nice way to start the tour.

"We have had a few weeks to work on things and it is nice when that stuff comes off under pressure."

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC One

Wales were taught a lesson in ball movement. They just couldn't cope.

It was as poor a Wales performance as I have seen in a long, long time.

Craig Joubert calls a halt to the match as the southern hemisphere brand of rugby leaves the north sprawled under the table once again.

A nice break from Hallam Amos leaves most of his team-mates far behind. He has to roll the ball back in hope of finding them rather than place it when he is eventually tackled.

Alex Cuthbert goes on a dart, but Nicky Smith spills forward.

Jonathan Davies
Former dual code Wales international on BBC One

I think Foley has steered the ship. He has orchestrated everything with the creativity. He is my man of the match.

Jonathan Davies
Former dual code Wales international on BBC One

That is a brilliant tackle. 

A superb cover tackle from Nick Frisby and a little lax finishing from Hallam Amos combine to deny Wales the points.

Hallam Amos dives over in the corner after a lovely pass flipped along the line from Justin Tipuric.

It has gone to the video gods. Has Nick Frisby's tackle forced the Wales winger into touch before he could ground the ball?