Q Radio Sport
Andy Farrell and his coaching team has named the Ireland match day squad to play New Zealand this coming Saturday at a sold out Aviva Stadium
While captain Johnny Sexton is facing New Zealand for the 14th time in his international career there are four players across the backline that face the All Blacks for the first time including his half-back partner Jamison Gibson Park.
The back three of Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway and James Lowe will also play New Zealand at senior level for the first time. Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are partnered in midfield for the fourteenth occasion.
There is one change to the starting pack with Iain Henderson partnering James Ryan in the engine room while the front row of Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadgh Furlong is retained.
Just in - Ireland rugby team named for the big one - Saturday's test v @AllBlacks @avivastadium@UlsterRugby skipper @HendersonIain
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 11, 2021
STARTS👇@IrishRugby #IREvNZL pic.twitter.com/Qkoow8J3IG
Similarly the back row of Caelan Doris at six, Josh van der Flier at 7 and Jack Conan at No.8 continues from last week’s game against Japan.
The replacements for Saturday’s game are Ulster hooker Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls.
Meanwhile, a Covid scare has proved to be a false alarm:
Some news just in from the Ireland rugby camp after a positive Covid test earlier - the player involved has since returned a double negative. The IRFU says the issue has been resolved so they're all good to go against the @AllBlacks at @AVIVAStadium tomorrow.@IrishRugby - pic.twitter.com/n4XzO2MWQH
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 12, 2021
And Ireland women have made it a winning start to the weekend:
Great start to a big weekend of international rugby - impressive victory for the Ireland women's team against the USA at @TheRDS 👏👏🙌@IrishRugby #IREvUSA pic.twitter.com/GEvYjneJfz
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 12, 2021
IRELAND team to play New Zealand – Saturday 13th November
Aviva Stadium KO 3.15pm
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 32 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 100 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 11 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 50 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 64 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 10 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 21 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 110 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 17 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 23 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 77 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 90 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 25 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 94 caps