The All Blacks play Ireland in the 3rd test of Ireland’s Summer Southern Hemisphere tour in Waikato on Saturday, 23rd June. Kick off is at 09.35 SA time.
Both sides have announced their teams with various changes in both the All Blacks and Ireland’s teams from the 2nd test match, that Ireland were very unlucky not to draw or perhaps even win.
The big news for the All Blacks is the omission of Dan Carter, who hurt his hamstring during practice earlier in the week, from the match day squad of 22. Carter’s place has been taken by Aaaron Cruden.
Other changes to the backline see Hosea Gear and Ben Smith start in place of fellow wingers Zac Guildford and Julian Savea. Guildford and Savea will not feature at all in the match.
In the forwards Luke Roman will make his debut for the All Blacks, starting at lock. Sam Cane is promoted from the bench and will get his first start, at flank. In the final change to the pack captain Richie Mc Caw will start at eighthman in place of Kieran Read who is out due to concussion.
Meanwhile the changes for Ireland see centre Paddy Wallace, wing Keith Earls and number eight Peter O’Mahony start in place of Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble and Jamie Heaslip.
D’Arcy and Heaslip are both out due to injury while Trimble is relegated to the bench.
Paddy Wallace was not even in Irelands original touring party, and it sounds like he has come straight from enjoying a holiday on the beaches of Portugal.
Teams as follows:
New Zealand: 15 I Dagg; 14 B Smith; 13 C Smith; 12 S B Williams; 11 H Gear; 10 A Cruden; 9 A Smith; 8 R McCaw (Capt); 7 S Cane; 6 L Messam; 5 S Whitelock; 4 L Romano; 3 O Franks; 2 A Hore; 1 T Woodcock
Replacements: 16 K Mealamu; 17 B Franks; 18 B Retallick; 19 A Thomson; 20 P Weepu; 21 B Barrett; 22 T Ellison
Ireland: 15 R Kearney; 14 F McFadden; 13 B O’Driscoll (Capt); 12 P Wallace; 11 K Earls; 10 J Sexton; 9 C Murray; 8 P O’Mahoney; 7 S O’Brien; 6 K McLaughlin; 5 D Ryan; 4 D Tuohy; 3 M Ross; 2 R Best, 1 C Healy
Replacements: 16 S Cronin; 17 D Fitzpatrick; 18 D O’Callaghan; 19 C Henry; 20 E Reddan; 21 R O’Gara; 22 A Trimble