All Blacks make bold selection for Ireland clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Ian Foster revealed his team for their first Test against Ireland on Saturday.
The team sees George Bower named as loosehead prop, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi on the other side of the scrum.
Scott Barrett wears the number 6 jersey with Captain Sam Cane at 7 and Ardie Savea at the back of the scrum.
Crusaders lock Barrett will slot into the blind side for the first time since the 2019 semi-final defeat to England.
The selection of Barrett was a bold move by Foster which will bolster the line out to combat a handful of tall Irish targets like Caelen Doris and Jack Conan in the loose forwards.
Debutant Leicester Fainga’anuku gets his first start in the number 11 jersey with fellow Crusader Sevu Reece on the right wing. After getting called up as cover due to Covid affecting players, Braydon Ennor comes into the 23, and debutant Pita Gus Sowakula is also named in the 23, to potentially get his first cap as an All Black.
You’ll never forgot your first call-up. Re-live the special moment with the players themselves. A Series of Firsts is brought to you by Altrad. pic.twitter.com/jDFBawwRl0
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 30, 2022
Named to play his 133rd All Blacks Test Sam Whitelock surpasses Keven Mealamu as the second most-capped All Black Test player of all time (behind Richie McCaw), in what is his 12th season with the team.
There is an incredibly rich history between the two teams which first met in 1905. Saturday will mark the 34th Test between the All Blacks and Ireland but just the fourth played at Eden Park.
Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock are the three current All Blacks who played Ireland when they last visited Eden Park in 2012.
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Scott Barrett, 5 Samual Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Pita Gus Sowakula, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Braydon Ennor.
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)
