Steve Hansen has named his New Zealand team to face Ireland in the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final this Saturday in Tokyo, with seven new players in the side compared to the clash between the countries in Dublin last November.
Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks, Liam Squire, Rieko Ioane, Ryan Crotty, Ben Smith and Damian McKenzie all played in that match but do not feature this time, with four of them not even making the World Cup squad.
Joe Moody, Sam Cane, George Bridge and Sevu Reece didn't play any part in the match last November, while Nepo Laulala, Richie Mo'unga and Anton Lienert-Brown came off the bench.
The only slight surprise in Hansen’s team is that Codie Taylor gets the nod ahead of Dane Coles at hooker, while Ben Smith does not make the matchday 23.
Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock will appear together in the second row for the 53rd time, which is a New Zealand record. Speaking in Tokyo this morning, Steve Hansen said such experience is necessary at this level.
“We feel we’ve selected a great mixture of talent in our 23, who are in great form, and the squad includes many players who have a lot of Rugby World Cup knockout match experience,” he said.
“There’s a lot of energy and excitement in the team which is normal for this stage of the tournament where the winner takes all. It will add extra pressure to both sides."
New Zealand team to play Ireland this Saturday:
- Joe Moody
- Codie Taylor
- Nepo Laulala
- Brodie Retallick
- Samuel Whitelock
- Ardie Savea
- Sam Cane
- Kieran Read (capt.)
- Aaron Smith
- Richie Mo'unga
- George Bridge
- Anton Lienert-Brown
- Jack Goodhue
- Sevu Reece
- Beauden Barrett
Replacements:
- Dane Coles
- Ofa Tuungafasi
- Angus Ta'avao
- Scott Barrett
- Matt Todd
- TJ Perenara
- Sonny Bill Williams
- Jordie Barrett
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