Ireland get their first shot at New Zealand since that dramatic Dublin defeat from three years ago, as Joe Schmidt’s men begin the new international season in the unfamiliar surroundings of Chicago’s Soldier Field.
INTERNATIONAL TEST MATCH: Saturday, November 5
IRELAND v NEW ZEALAND, Soldier Field, Chicago, 3pm local time/8pm Irish time (live eir Sport 2/BT Sport 2 HD/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: The selected Ireland team shows seven personnel changes from last June’s third Test defeat to South Africa – five in the backs and two in the forwards.
The back row combination of CJ Stander, Jordi Murphy and vice-captain Jamie Heaslip remains in place, with Munster’s Donnacha Ryan coming into the second row for his fourth Test start since February.
Wexford man Tadhg Furlong takes the tighthead spot alongside Rory Best, who captains Ireland for the 13th time, and Jack McGrath. It is Furlong’s second time to wear the number 3 jersey after making his first start against the Springboks in June.
There are a number of players returning from injury in the back-line, as the half-back pairing of Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray and centre duo Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw are all reunited.
Rob Kearney, one of Ireland’s try scorers in their epic 2013 game against the All Blacks, will win his 70th cap at full-back, while wingers Andrew Trimble and Simon Zebo complete an experienced back-three that boasts 160 caps.
Leinster talents Joey Carbery and Garry Ringrose could make their senior debuts for Ireland off the bench. The pair, both aged 21, are included among the replacements along with Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier and Kieran Marmion.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks side sees the experienced starting front row of props Joe Moody and Owen Franks and hooker Dane Coles named, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina and Codie Taylor backing them up from the bench.
Loose forward Jerome Kaino, who has covered lock at international level in the past, will start his first Test in that position alongside Patrick Tuipulotu. It will be a significant day for 22-year-old replacement lock Scott Barrett, the younger brother of Beauden, who is set to make his Test debut and become All Black number 1155.
In the loose forwards, Liam Squire gets the nod at blindside flanker for his second Test start this year, alongside Sam Cane at openside and number 8 and captain Kieran Read who will play his 95th Test. Ardie Savea provides loose forward cover.
In the backs, Aaron Smith returns to the starting line-up for his 55th Test appearance, alongside half-back partner Beauden Barrett, while Ryan Crotty and George Moala pair up in the centre.
It will also be a milestone moment for Julian Savea who will run out for his 50th cap alongside fellow winger Waisake Naholo and vice-captain Ben Smith at full-back. The replacement backs are TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden and Malakai Fekitoa.
IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster); Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).
Replacements: Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster).
NEW ZEALAND: Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders); Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders), George Moala (Auckland/Blues), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders), Julian Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes); Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes), Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders); Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders), Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes), Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland/Blues), Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues), Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders), Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Kieran Read (Canterbury/Crusaders) (capt).
Replacements: Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Auckland/Blues), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland/Blues), Scott Barrett (Canterbury/Crusaders), Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes), TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu/Chiefs), Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland/Highlanders).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Television Match Official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland to win: 11/1; Draw: 60/1; New Zealand to win: 1/25
Pre-Match Quotes: Rory Best (Ireland) – “There’s been some fantastic rugby teams and some fantastic All Blacks teams. Obviously statistically when you look at what they’ve achieved over the last 12 months and the Rugby Championship, they looked very, very strong.
“It’s kind of hard comparing teams over generations but there’s no doubt that this AB team is an extremely talented team that knows how to play rugby but also how to win games. You look at the scorelines over the Rugby Championship, it sums up just how good they are.
“I’ve heard Sean Fitzpatrick comparing them, he’d be someone who would know a lot more about the All Black teams of old. And if he’s saying they’re the best team that’s ever been then they’ve got to be very close to it.
“The important thing for us is that we look at them, we respect them and everything they’ve done to date, but we’ve got to look at ourselves and how we can improve. We are looking to build momentum, to continually improve. We’ve got to respect them but we can’t go out and fear them.
“We’ve got to go out and have our game-plan, stick to it rigidly and ultimately beat the All Blacks. From what I’ve seen you’ve got to minimise how many unforced errors you have. They are going to create chances but you can’t gift them chances on top of that.”
Kieran Read (New Zealand) – “It’s fact and we certainly don’t want to be the first New Zealand team to lose to Ireland. It’s been spoken about and the guys understand that, but that’s not what’s going to decide the game so there’s no point talking about it too much. It’s about us talking about our process and showing what we do on the field.
“It is Ireland’s first Test for a while so they would have changed a few things and adapted stuff. “But we know they’re a structured side, they like to play with a lot of structure and they use their nine and 10 to direct them around the field really well.
“So we’ve just got to try and upset that as much as we can on defence and try not to let them get too much go-forward.”
Pre-Match Links –
‘In Touch’ November Issue Out Now
Head-To-Head: Ireland v New Zealand
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run In Chicago
Irish Rugby TV: Ireland Captain’s Run Press Conference
In Pics: Ireland Training In Chicago
Recent Meetings –
2012: Summer Tour Second Test: New Zealand 22 Ireland 19, AMI Stadium, Christchurch; Summer Tour Third Test: New Zealand 60 Ireland 0, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
2013: GUINNESS Series: Ireland 22 New Zealand 24, Aviva Stadium
Support Ireland on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #TeamOfUs, #ShouldertoShoulder and #IREvNZL on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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