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Just one change for Ireland as they name side to face All Blacks
By Ben Smith
Head coach Andy Farrell has made just one change to Ireland's team as they prepare for the third and final test match of the series against the All Blacks in Wellington.
Bundee Aki has been named at inside centre to partner Robbie Henshaw in the midfield after incumbent No 13 Garry Ringrose succumbed to injury.
The experienced No 12 has a vast wealth of experience playing alongside Johnny Sexton for Ireland, softening the Ringrose blow somewhat.
Sexton will be out to play his 108th cap, which will equal former captain Paul O'Connell's tally.
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe have been named again in the back three, while Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Sexton in the halves.
Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls are named on the bench.
The industrious Irish pack from the first two tests remains in tact with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong starting in the front row with Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan in the second. Ireland will carry one lock on the bench in Kieran Treadwell with Rob Herring, Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham as front row replacements.
The loose forward trio of Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris round out a well balanced forward unit with Jack Conan on the bench as cover.
Ireland made history in Dunedin with their first ever win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, which was their fourth win in their last seven outings against the men in black.
With the series levelled 1-1, Ireland have a chance to break more historical ground with an unprecedented series win over New Zealand.
Ireland team to play New Zealand:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (c)
9. Jamison Gibson Park
8. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
6. Peter O’Mahony
5. James Ryan
4. Tadhg Beirne
3. Tadhg Furlong
2. Dan Sheehan
1. Andrew Porter
Replacements
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Joey Carbery
23. Keith Earls
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Latest Comments
Fantastic idea to fix your annual showpiece fixture (from the Wallabies perspective) to a national holiday. Look at the success this has had in the USA, where NBA and NFL fans pack multiple arenas across the country on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, the two most widely-celebrated national holidays in North America, with millions more tuning in on TV. This allows fans to create an association between the holiday and the game, while the ANZAC Day example has the added benefit of the same two teams (who are already established historical and geographical rivals) playing each year, adding to the sense of tradition and deepening the rivalry with each iteration.
Would love to see this more widely-implemented across rugby. For instance, Ireland should seek to tie the opening fixture of the Women’s Six Nations to St. Patrick’s Day and host the game in the RDS with the Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final serving as an opener (bonus points if you make the opponent England every year). Would pack out the stadium and the School’s final fans always bring fantastic atmosphere!
Go to commentsI don't know if the players have talk to Galthie, but they should talk to their employers, the clubs, first. After losing Dupont for at least 9 months, I am sure Toulouse will applause this idea with their two hands….
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