USA Eagles vs. New Zealand All Blacks: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Soldier Field in Chicago is set to host a historic event on Saturday as the USA Eagles take on rugby's all-conquering world champions, the New Zealand All Blacks.

It is the first time the Kiwis will have played in the USA since 1980, and it is terrific opportunity to show off the best rugby team in the world to a new American audience.

The Eagles are in preparation for next year's World Cup in England and can test their mettle at the highest level on Saturday.

Read on for a full look at the television, live streaming and scheduling information for the Chicago encounter as well as a full preview.

Date: Saturday, November 1

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. GMT

TV Info: NBC (US), Sky Sports 2 (UK)

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra, Sky Go

All Blacks Looking for Easy Win

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

Earlier this month, New Zealand finally lost their 22-match unbeaten record as they were defeated 27-25 in the Rugby Championship by South Africa.

They were then almost subjected to back-to-back losses before centre Malakai Fekitoa ran in a last-minute try—subsequently converted by Colin Slade—to beat Australia by a single point in the season's third Bledisloe Cup Test, per the All Blacks:

Steve Hansen's side have been run incredibly close in their last few matches and have away clashes with Scotland, Wales and first England coming up in November.

Thus an easy run out in Chicago would come as a welcome relief for the All Blacks, and they certainly should pick up a convincing win against the Eagles.

The US rugby team currently sits 18th in the IRB world ranking while the Kiwis hold top spot, and the quality gap between the two sides is massive.

Playing sensible rugby, the All Blacks should breeze past the Americans, but they must keep their cool in front of a sellout home crowd of 61,000.

Unknown Eagles

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

There are no bigger opposition in the rugby world than New Zealand, and the Eagles will be hoping to make a big impact on a massive stage on Saturday.

The match is going out live on prime time in the U.S., and it is a huge opportunity to raise the profile of rugby around the country.

While a victory is highly unlikely, the home side do have unfamiliarity on their side as the All Blacks will be unaware of many Eagles players.

Equally, they will have the crowd on their side, and captain Todd Clever says his side will use that to their advantage, per TVNZ:

"

We'll use the energy from the crowd, the energy from the haka and use what we want to do. We are international athletes and we want to play at the highest level and here's our opportunity to do so. We just got to acknowledge it and take it on.

"

The USA's last Test outing was a 24-6 loss to Scotland back in June, but there is definite quality in the side. English Premiership players Cameron Dolan and Samu Manoa of Northampton, Newcastle's Eric Fry, Blaine Scully of Leicester and Saracens' Hayden Smith and Chris Wyles have all been released from club duty to take part in the match.

They will need to take every opportunity they are given—they will be few and far between—but the Eagles have the talent and the support to give their auspicious opponents a match, as well as an element of mystery.