Asafo Aumua comes into the All Blacks starting squad, replacing injured hooker Codie Taylor. Photo: TSUTOMU KISHIMOTO /www.photosport.nz
All Blacks v Ireland
Kick-off: 9.10am Saturday 9 November
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Live updates on RNZ Sport
The All Blacks have made two injury-enforced changes to the team to play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday morning, with first-five Beauden Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor replaced in the starting lineup by Damian McKenzie and Asafo Aumua respectively.
Barrett and Taylor were both ruled out of the test after suffering head injuries in last week's win over England at Twickenham.
Damian McKenzie will replace Beauden Barrett at first-five for the Ireland test. Photo: Michael Thomas/www.photosport.nz
George Bell and Stephen Perofeta come into the reserves as hooker and backs cover.
Scott Barrett captains the side at lock alongside Tupou Vaa'i, with Tyrel Lomax and Tamaiti Williams the props.
Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Wallace Sititi once again make up the loose forwards and the All Blacks coaches will be hoping Sititi can continue his impressive international form.
Cortez Ratima starts at halfback with Cam Roigard again on the bench.
Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane are outside McKenzie in the midfield with Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke and Mark Telea, who scored two tries against England, in the back three.
The All Blacks and Ireland's last match was the 2023 World Cup quarter final, which the All Blacks won to end Ireland's hopes of a maiden title.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said that match will be fresh in the minds of many fans heading along to the game.
"This is a highly anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field.
"We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England. We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team."
Match facts
- The All Blacks have played 27 Tests against Ireland since 1905 for a record of 21 wins, 5 losses and one draw.
- Last time the teams met was during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris where the All Blacks won a thrilling Test 28-24.
- Ireland's first win over the All Blacks came on neutral soil during a 40-29 win in Chicago in 2016.
- The teams have played in Dublin 18 times and five times at Aviva Stadium since their first meeting at the venue in 2010.
- Aviva Stadium holds 52,000 fans and was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road ground where the sides met on 17 occasions, including their first match in 1905.
All Blacks match-day 23 (caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (16)
2. Asafo Aumua (17)
3. Tyrel Lomax (41)
4. Scott Barrett (77) (captain)
5. Tupou Vaa'i (35)
6. Wallace Sititi (7)
7. Sam Cane (102)
8. Ardie Savea (91) (vice-captain)
9. Cortez Ratima (9)
10. Damian McKenzie (58)
11. Caleb Clarke (26)
12. Jordie Barrett (66) (vice-captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (78)
14. Mark Tele'a (17)
15. Will Jordan (38)
16. George Bell (2)
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (65)
18. Pasilio Tosi (5)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (48)
20. Samipeni Finau (6)
21. Cam Roigard (7)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (81)
23. Stephen Perofeta (6)
Unavailable due to injury: Codie Taylor (concussion), Beauden Barrett (concussion), Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (upper hamstring)
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