Ireland show their hand for All Black showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his troops that will face New Zealand at Lansdowne Road on Friday.
No.8 Caelan Doris will don the captain’s armband having served as the skipper in a Six Nations clash against Italy and the victorious second Test against South Africa.
The back three consists of Mack Hansen and James Lowe on the wings with Hugo Keenan at fullback.
Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are the preferred centre partners with scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park and flyhalf Jack Crowly making up the halfback combination.
Up front props Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham will partner with hooker Ronan Kelleher in the front-row with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan joining behind them to make up the tight five.
Tadgh Beirne will start at No.6 alongside Josh van der Flier at openside flank, with captain Doris completing the pack at No.8.
The bench is loaded with experience with Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony providing the pack reinforcements, while Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne will provide cover in the backs.
Looking ahead to the game, Farrell said: “I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal.
“Since assembling at the IRFU High Performance Centre last week, the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team.
“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Lansdowne Road and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side.
” The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Lansdowne Road Stadium on a Friday night, under lights, with a home crowd roaring us on.”
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Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14, Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadgh Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne.
Date: Friday, November 8
Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Kick-off: 20.10 (9.10 NZDT Satuday, November 9, 20.10 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
