Full-Strength Ireland to face All Blacks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has announced the side that will take to the field at Eden Park in Auckland in the first of the three-Test Series against New Zealand.
Johnny Sexton captains the side and is partnered at halfback by New Zealand-born Jamison Gibson Park.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose line out in the centre with Kiwi-born James Lowe and Keith Earls on the wings, while Hugo Keenan at fullback.
#ICYMI: #NewZealand‘s @MaoriAllBlacks gave the touring @IrishRugby team a rude wake-up call in #Hamilton on #Wednesday #Rugby 🏉#RugbyUnion🌍#MAOvIRE🇳🇿V🇮🇪https://t.co/sv9KbAVRRl
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 30, 2022
Up front, Andrew Porter returns to the side having missed the final two games of this year’s Six Nations through injury.
He will pack down alongside Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong with Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan at lock.
Peter O’Mahony will fill the blindside flank berth with Josh van der Flier at openside and Caelan Doris at No.8.
The replacements are Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Cian Healy, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Bundee Aki.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson Park, 8 Caelan Dorris, 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 Dave Heffernan, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Cian Healy, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Bundee Aki
Date: Saturday, July 2
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.05 (08.05 Irish Time, 07.05 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (RFU) & Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
#TEAMANNOUNCEMENT: @AllBlacks coach Ian Foster makes some bold moves against @IrishRugby #rugby #news #NZvIRE https://t.co/Cxbfm67gXS
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 30, 2022
