Green will be New Zealand’s colour on Saturday. They go into their quarter-final against an Ireland team who have won two of the past three Tests between the sides with a recently minted back division while their opponents will be armed with 12 of the starting lineup from the victory against the All Blacks in Dublin last November.

Given that the scrum-half Conor Murray and the centre Robbie Henshaw missed that match because of injury and Iain Henderson has established himself in the second row at Devin Toner’s expense, Ireland are virtually at full strength. Bundee Aki might have been picked ahead of Garry Ringrose in the midfield but for his suspension for a high tackle against Samoa but their head coach, Joe Schmidt, has gone for experience and players who know what success tastes like.

Like Schmidt the New Zealand head coach, Steve Hansen, is preparing for what may be his last Test with each man standing down at the end of his respective side’s tournament, whenever that may be. Hansen talked during his team announcement about not living in the past when asked about Ireland’s victories in 2016 and last year, their only two against the All Blacks in 114 years, but his body language suggested his memory stretched some way beyond the start of this tournament.

The forecast here is for rain on Saturday, but Hansen has picked a team to attack Ireland out wide. The wings George Bridge and Sevu Reece have 12 caps between them, the centre Jack Goodhue 11 and Richie Mo’unga, who continues at fly‑half with Beauden Barrett the second playmaker at full-back, 14. The experienced Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty did not even make the bench, which is where Sonny Bill Williams will sit.

Ireland’s victory last year was based on their suffocating defence, which prevented New Zealand from playing with width, together with their ability to retain possession. Seldom in recent years have the World Cup holders looked so clueless and, although they did not know until last weekend who they would be playing in the last eight, they will have been planning for this match for a long time, ready to cold-bloodedly serve their revenge.

Despite being the bookmakers’ favourites, New Zealand are not widely fancied here to win the cup for a third consecutive time. The Irish media at Schmidt’s team announcement here at Disneyland were fantasising about a first appearance in a semi‑final at the ninth time of trying, optimism breaking through after the cloudburst prompted by the defeat by Japan.

Ireland have conceded only two tries this tournament and, when Hansen was asked to sum up Ireland’s strength, he said: “They are tenacious. They play a pretty structured game and they know what they are good at. They do not wander too much off script and they are not a team that give you many opportunities through mistakes.”

Schmidt has in the past cited the ability of the All Blacks to turn defence into attack with alacrity, highlighting the essential difference between the sides. New Zealand are reactive, waiting to exploit a disorganised defence, while Ireland have the organisation of a team who prepare in the minutest detail. Both sides are coached by New Zealanders, but their approaches are markedly different.

“You cannot go out against New Zealand and accept that you are second fiddle,” Schmidt said. “You need belief, and the accumulation of experience and success our players have had builds confidence. After beating them twice in three years, we know we are not going to be able to sneak up and surprise them. They are well aware of how we play and what they are going to do to combat that.”

Schmidt was in expansive mood, as if he had heard what the weather was expected to be like come kick-off, and like Hansen he talked about the closeness of the two coaching teams: his forwards coach, Greg Feek, is also a New Zealander and won 10 caps as a prop and once led the haka. “They are good guys to have a drink with afterwards,” Schmidt said. “We exchanged a few texts last weekend. It is hard for anyone not to respect what the All Blacks have achieved and it is awesome to be coaching against them.”

As with the two head coaches, one of the respective captains will be playing his last Test. New Zealand’s Kieran Read is moving to Japan and retiring from international rugby while Ireland’s Rory Best will end his professional career at the age of 37.

“It’s all about Saturday,” Best said. “It is about which team is able to implement its gameplan the best and deal with the pressure of knockout rugby. I think we are in a good spot.”

Read said that while the All Blacks were ready for the physical demands Ireland would place on them, they had also worked on the mind. “A lot of it comes down to mental application,” he said. “We have had close games against them in the last few years and the fun part is Saturday. I want the guys to be fired up, but we need to be in the right space. That means having clear minds.”