All Blacks blockbuster kicks off exciting autumn schedule for Ireland

If we were being picky, we would have placed Friday night's under-lights blockbuster at the far end of the Autumn Nations Series but with four tantalising Test matches over the next four weekends on the menu, we're not going to complain.

As it is, we will have to just put up with the visit of New Zealand as the opener for the campaign.

With next year being the IRFU's 150th anniversary, there's an extra game, with Australia the visitors on the final weekend, the fact that it brings back Joe Schmidt to Irish shores for the first time as a head coach an added boost for the fixture.

A lot has happened since the Kiwi left in the wake of a disappointing World Cup in 2019 but he is assured of a warm welcome.

In the space of six seasons, he delivered three Six Nations championships, including a stunning Grand Slam in 2018 that featured unforgettable wins in Paris and London.

But first things first - a rematch, for which the IRFU have a special lights show organised for before kick-off, with the team that knocked Ireland out of the World Cup 12 months ago in heartbreaking fashion.

New Zealand and Ireland have built up a brilliant rivalry over the last eight years, all kick-started by the 2016 clash in Chicago that put an end to 111 years of misery at the hands of the All Blacks.

The 40-29 victory at Soldier Field has been followed by eight matches, all but one, the 2019 quarter-final in Japan, high-quality, absorbing, first-class Tests that showcased the best of what the sport is about.

Eight games, four wins apiece, with two of the Irish successes coming in Dunedin (23-12) and Wellington (33-22) in 2022, arguably Ireland's finest away performances of the professional era.

Ireland also hit the heights in Aviva Stadium victories in 2018