WATCH: Marcus Horan thinks Joe Schmidt will have planned for New Zealand

After finishing second to Japan in their RWC Pool Group, Ireland will face New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the competition this Saturday.

Ireland will have expected to top their group after being paired with Scotland and Japan in the group stages.

However, the loss to Japan saw Ireland finish as runners up and avoid South Africa in the quarter-finals.

While many would see South Africa as an easier game than the All Blacks, former Ireland international Marcus Horan says Joe Schmidt will have planned sufficiently for Steve Hansen’s New Zealand.

At the Regeneron Preview, Horan said,

“I think New Zealand is a better outcome for us. I think someone like Joe Schmidt would be better prepared for a team like New Zealand than South Africa.”