New Zealand have made two changes for tonight's encounter against Ireland in Dublin.

Both are enforced, with Damian McKenzie replacing Beauden Barrett at fly-half, while hooker Asafo Aumua comes in for Codie Taylor.

Beauden Barrett and hooker Taylor were ruled out of the Aviva Stadium game following injuries sustained in last Saturday's dramatic 24-22 victory over England.

Both players failed head injury assessments [HIAs] in the match at Twickenham. McKenzie and Aumua are replaced on the bench by George Bell and Stephen Perofeta.

New Zealand: Will Jordan; Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damien McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamaita Williams, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (capt), Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea.

Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilo Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Leinert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

The word "revenge" seems to have been banned around the Ireland team this week. While Tadhg Beirne admitted that last year's World Cup quarter-final loss to tonight's opponents still gives him nightmares, to a man the squad have distances themselves from the notion that there is any score to be settled.

Still, there's plenty of individual battles that will New Zealand won decisively that night in Paris that will need to go Ireland's way tonight.

Most importantly the back-row, where San Cane and Ardie Savea were huge in that quarter-final, and at scrum time where Ireland are without Tadhg Furlong.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland flanker Tadhg Beirne admits that he still thinks of his side's World Cup quarter-final loss to the All Blacks last year "quite regularly".

Tonight at the Aviva Stadium, the sides will meet for the first time since that Paris knock-out game.

And, while the last ten games between the pair have been evenly split with five wins each, New Zealand won not just the 2023 World Cup quarter-final, but also at the same stage in Japan four years prior.

"I still have nightmares about that game," said Beirne, who will wear the Irish number six jersey in Dublin.

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll was speaking to BBC Radio 5Live earlier and he said that Ireland's rivalry with the All Blacks had become "pretty spicy":

"For 100 years we hadn't beaten New Zealand, so as far as they were concerned we were playing ball.

"Kind of a valiant effort but just not getting the job done. Things changed in 2016 and now we've won five of the last nine outings against the All Blacks.

"I think there is a newfound respect for Irish rugby down in New Zealand. I think when we beat them 2-1 in the series in New Zealand, they went 'okay, maybe this is a team to be reckoned with'.

"It's where we want to be, but ultimately they have beaten us in the last two World Cup quarter-finals and that's something we will have to carry with us.

"The opportunity to beat them in these big games in Dublin, a big atmosphere on a Friday night, gives you a reminder that you are still there and still at the top of the tree."

It's one of the most famous day in Irish rugby history.

In the unlikely setting of Chicago, Ireland's long, 111-year wait to conquer the All Blacks came to an end with a 40-29 win in November 2016.

Andrew Trimble, who was on the wing for Ireland that day, looks back on the famous day at Soldier Field.

It's a rivalry that has been building over the past 11 years.

Here's how the last 10 results have played out...

Image source, BBC Sport

Garry Ringrose says Ireland are determined to maintain their impressive home form as they target a 20th straight Aviva Stadium win against the All Blacks on Friday night.

Andy Farrell's side have made the Dublin venue one of the most daunting arenas for visiting teams in recent years, their last home defeat coming against France in the 2021 Six Nations.

In addition to New Zealand, Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and Australia during the November internationals.

"It's becoming more special with every experience we have there," said Ringrose.

"Some of the results, when our backs are against the wall, even thinking back to Australia [in 2016], it was the last Test of that November series.

"It was Besty [Rory Best]'s 100th cap and there were a few injuries but we came out the other end and win a game like that.

Read more here

Image source, Inpho

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI

Image source, Getty Images

As Joe Marler alluded to while announcing his retirement last week, international rugby can be something of a "dream bubble".

But towards the end of last month, as the Ireland squad gathered in Portugal and began to look towards Friday's mouth-watering rematch with the All Blacks, they were served a powerful dose of reality.

The Irish squad have had several guests in recent years, from Bono to Shane Lowry. Hearing from personalities outside of the Test rugby grind can be illuminating and light-hearted, a welcome break from training and meetings.

But perhaps no visit stirred their souls quite like Nando Parrado's.

Parrado was once a rugby player, but he is more widely known as a central figure in a story at once inspirational and harrowing, one that exemplifies the strength of human spirit in the face of the greatest adversity.

In October 1972, a plane carrying members and family from Uruguayan club Old Christians Club crashed in the Andes on its way to Chile.

Speaking about Parrado's visit to camp, Ireland coach Simon Easterby said: "He's just a really inspirational figure in terms of what he and his team-mates went through in terrible conditions.

"A real inspiration and interesting to hear from someone who had been through all of that and still had the positivity to come out the other side and live a very good life."

"They reflect my career in a lot of ways, they've given me some great moments."

From coming on for the last 10 minutes of a 66-28 defeat in New Plymouth, to a gut-wrenching World Cup quarter-final defeat in his last game as a professional, Johnny Sexton's experience against the All Blacks started and finished on particularly sour notes.

In between, however, were some of his most cherished experiences on a rugby pitch.

Read more here

Image source, Inpho

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

There's a huge anticipation around the Aviva tonight...so much so that as we rolled up to the ground three hours before kick-off there were so many about already that there was a moment of panic that we'd forgotten to change the clock in the car.

It's packed to the rafters with not a ticket to be had for the latest instalment of what now seems to have been dubbed rugby's spiciest rivalry.

It has become one of the most highly anticipated fixtures in world rugby.

So, what will the latest chapter of Ireland against New Zealand have in store?

Here is all you need to know.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Inpho

The calm before the storm.

Featuring Ireland's new kit. They've a special 150th anniversary one coming for the Australia game at the end of the month, but this is the one they will be wearing for the rest of the autumn fixtures and the Six Nations.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sounds

You've a choice of listening for tonight's game.

On Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, Jim Neilly is joined on commentary in Dublin by former Ireland back row Chris Henry from 20:00 GMT.

Former Ireland wing Tommy Bowe and Chris Jones are on commentary on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5Live.

You can also follow live updates here, and we'll have reaction after the match on the BBC Sport website.

You won't miss a thing.

Image source, Inpho

The Aviva Stadium has been a bit of a fortress for Ireland, who are looking for their 20th consecutive win in Dublin.

A nice easy one to reach that tally tonight.....right?

Image source, Inpho

We're starting off with an absolute block buster, but what are the other big matches this weekend?

England, after their late heartbreak against New Zealand last week, take on Australia at Twickenham.

Argentina, who face Ireland next week, take on Italy while Wales face Fiji.

After their win over Fiji last week, Scotland are back in action against the might Springboks on Sunday.

Image source, Inpho

Here we go. It's the one we've all been waiting for.

Ireland v New Zealand has become one of the biggest fixtures in world rugby.

The All Blacks got the better of Andy Farrell's side at the World Cup last autumn, and now Ireland will be looking to hit back on home soil.

You can listen to the game in Dublin live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5Live and BBC Radio Ulster.

We'll also have live updates right here and reaction once it arrives.

This should be good. Strap in, folks.