Munster v All Blacks XV - teams and prediction

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Du’Plessis Kirifi will captain the All Blacks XV when they take on Munster on Saturday at Thomond Park in Ireland.

Kirifi will be supported by the experienced flyhalf Harry Plummer as vice-captain for the match.

The All Blacks XV starting front row features loosehead prop George Bower, tighthead prop George Dyer and Brodie McAlister at hooker. Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia and Marcel Renata will provide impact off the bench.

Isaia Walker-Leawere and Fabian Holland make up the locking duo, with Oliver Haig, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders the loose forward trio. Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Corey Kellow are named on the bench.

In the backs, the experienced Blues and All Blacks combination of Finlay Christie and Plummer will take the field as halfback combinations, with recent All Black Noah Hotham on the bench. With an equally strong midfield, Quinn Tupaea returns to international rugby in the No.12 jersey and AJ Lam starts at centre.

The back three is made up of Kini Naholo on the left wing, Chay Fihaki on the right and Shaun Stevenson at fullback. Stand-out Bunnings Warehouse NPC player Josh Jacomb and recent All Blacks debutant Ruben Love will be injected off the bench.

Travel to the other side of the world with the All Blacks XV 🛫#AllBlacksXV pic.twitter.com/3XSZZOfY5F

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 28, 2024

Diarmuid Barron captains Munster with Peter O’Mahony returning to the side for his second appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Diarmuid Kilgallen earns his first cap with a start on the left wing as Academy speedster Shay McCarthy is selected on the right wing.

In total, six Academy players are included in the 23-man squad with Evan O’Connell in line for his first Munster cap.

Stephen Archer, Niall Scannell and Rory Scannell are all included in the squad having helped Munster to a famous win over the Māori All Blacks in 2016.

Mike Haley starts at fullback with McCarthy and Kilgallen on either wing.

Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns start together in the halfbacks with Rory Scannell and Tom Farrell in midfield.

John Ryan, Barron and Archer pack down in the front row with Fineen Wycherley and Tom Ahern in the engine room. It will be Ahern’s 50th Munster appearance.

O’Mahony, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the side.

Niall Scannell and Academy props Kieran Ryan and Ronan Foxe provide the front row backup.

Academy duo O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn complete the forward cover.

Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler and Academy back three-player Ben O’Connor are the backline replacements.

Patterson is in line for his first appearance since New Year’s Day as he returns from a long-term knee injury with O’Connor set for his first appearance of the season.

“There is a long-standing rivalry between New Zealand teams and Munster. We are expecting an intense, competitive clash in front of a sold-out passionate Irish crowd in Limerick,” said McMillan.

“The players are all out to showcase their skills and make the most of the opportunity to play on an international scale, representing New Zealand. It’s a proud moment for players and their whanau.”

Prediction: 

@rugby365com: All Blacks XV by five points

Teams: 

Munster: 15 Mike Haley; 14 Shay McCarthy, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen; 10 Billy Burns, 9 Ethan Coughlan; 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tom Ahern; 4 Fineen Wycherley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron (Captain), 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Ben O’Connor.

All Blacks XV: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Ruben Love

Date: Saturday, November 2
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 17.30 (17.30 GMT; 06.30 Sunday, November 3 NZDT)
Referee: Takehito Namekwa
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley, Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Damon Murphy