All Blacks team named to play Ireland in Nations Championship
Rennie makes four changes for All Blacks v Ireland Test at Eden Park
Dave Rennie has selected Josh Moorby for his first Test start on the left wing with Will Jordan retained on the right wing for this crucial Nations Championship match.
Ruben Love starts again at first five-eighth while Quinn Tupaea returns at centre.
In the forwards Anton Segner keeps his bench spot with Ardie Savea captaining the All Blacks from Number 8 against Ireland.
LIVE on Sky Sport - Saturday 18 July: All Blacks vs Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland. Kickoff time: 19:10PM (NZST). Highlights available on allblacks.com and the All Blacks and Black Ferns app. Follow the Official All Blacks vs Ireland Match Centre for real-time scores, live stats and match updates as they happen.
All Blacks team to play Ireland (Test caps in brackets)
Starting XV
Forwards
1. Loosehead Prop - Ethan de Groot (42)
2. Hooker - Codie Taylor (108)
3. Tighthead Prop - Tyrel Lomax (50)
4. Lock - Josh Lord (14)
5. Lock - Patrick Tuipulotu (56)
6. Blindside Flanker - Tupou Vaa’i (46)
7. Openside Flanker - Luke Jacobson (26)
8. Number 8 - Ardie Savea (108) (Captain)
Backs
9. Halfback - Cam Roigard (19)
10. First Five-Eighth - Ruben Love (7)
11. Left Wing - Josh Moorby (1)
12. Second Five-Eighth - Jordie Barrett (80)
13. Centre - Quinn Tupaea (25)
14. Right Wing - Will Jordan (56)
15. Fullback - Damian McKenzie (76)
Replacements
16. Hooker - Asafo Aumua (21)
17. Loosehead Prop - Xavier Numia (1)
18. Tighthead Prop - Fletcher Newell (36)
19. Loose Forward - Anton Segner (1)
20. Loose Forward - Peter Lakai (9)
21. Halfback - Cortez Ratima (23)
22. Midfield - Anton Lienert-Brown (89)
23. Outside Backs - Caleb Clarke (34)
Unavailable due to injury:
Fehi Fineanganofo (shoulder); Leroy Carter (shoulder).
View All Blacks Full Squad.
WATCH: Go behind the scenes with the All Blacks in episode three of Behind the Fern
Josh Moorby earns his first Test start, while Quinn Tupaea returns to the midfield.
Rennie has made four changes and one positional change to the starting fifteen that beat Italy last weekend. Tupou Vaa’i shifts from lock to blindside flanker, while Josh Lord and Patrick Tuipulotu start at lock.
In the backs, midfielder Quinn Tupaea returns to the starting line-up, and Josh Moorby has been promoted from the bench to start at wing after an impressive debut in Wellington.
Recent debutants Anton Segner and Xavier Numia will also have the opportunity to add a second cap from the bench. Numia will be joined by Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell in the reserve front row.
Peter Lakai and Caleb Clarke also return to the 23, adding to a bench full of impact players.
“Ireland have been one of the best sides in the world for a number of years now. They are very experienced and well-coached and will have belief on the back of their recent success here. We are well aware of the challenge they pose.
“We have selected a strong team that allows some of the combinations we have tested to continue building, and rewards players who have impressed over the last two rounds, including some of our recent debutants,” Rennie said.
“We know how important our bench will be against a team as tenacious as Ireland, so have selected players who we know are capable of making an impact and influencing the course of the game.”
PRESS CONFERENCE: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie discusses selections for Ireland Test
MATCH FACTS
The All Blacks have played Ireland 39 times in total, for 33 wins, 5 losses and a draw.
While the All Blacks have won the last three Tests against the Irish, all played away, they lost the last two Tests played at home (in 2022).
Thirteen members of the 23 to play on Saturday were involved in the last Test match against Ireland, which the All Blacks won 26-13 in Chicago.
The All Blacks hold a 52-Test unbeaten streak at Eden Park, stretching back to July 1994. Over this 32-year period they have recorded 50 wins and 2 draws.
You're visiting The Home of the Black Jersey - Get all the latest on the All Blacks & Black Ferns with News, Videos, All Blacks Fixtures & Results, Black Ferns Fixtures & Results, Match Tickets, Player Stats & Profiles, the current All Blacks and Black Ferns Squad right here!
