Ireland remain unchanged - for now
Murphy faces a fitness test
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named an unchanged XV to face the All Blacks in the second test at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. But there could be a late change to the team due to doubts surrounding the fitness of fullback Geordan Murphy.
The 2006 Triple Crown winners were on the verge of a historic win over New Zealand in the first test at Hamilton last Saturday, before a strong finish from the home side saw them maintain their unbeaten record with a 34-23 win.
The Irish management have left one vacancy on the replacements bench, due to doubts surrounding the fitness of Murphy who has suffered an Achilles tendon strain. The last place on the bench will not be finalised until Murphy's status is confirmed.
At the team announcement, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said that his side need a major improvement in discipline for the second Test.
Penalties ended up costing the men from the Emerald Isle dearly on the scoreboard, as New Zealand fly-half Luke McAlister kicked five penalties.
O'Sullivan said: "It [The penalty count] undid us in the second half – but we were defending for long phases. This week, we need to be more accurate and more urgent at the breakdown as well."
Asked if his side can rise to the occasion again and put themselves in sight of an historic victory over the All Blacks, he added: "It all depends on us playing to our potential. If we get everything right, we can give any team a run."
Team captain Brian O'Driscoll remains confident that the second Test will not echo back to previous tours to New Zealand where the Irish were comprehensively beaten in the final game after running the hosts close in the first game.
The second Tests in 1992 and 2002 resulted in 59-6 and 40-8 wins for the Kiwis respectively.
"You have to be confident," O'Driscoll acknowledged. "My only memory is of four years ago when we played well in the first Test in one of those narrow defeats and then let ourselves down in the second Test.
"The All Blacks certainly are going to be better than they were at the weekend as history has shown, and we'd like to think we'll be better as well."
Ireland: 15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Neil Best, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 4 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Keith Gleeson, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Girvan Dempsey, 22 AN Other
Date: Saturday, June 11
Kick-off: 19.30 (07.35 GMT)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia), Brett Bowden (Australia)
Television match official: Paul Marks (Australia)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
