Ireland bolstered their lineout and defence under the high ball by bringing lock Devin Toner and fit-again Rob Kearney back into their side to face New Zealand in Saturday’s clash of the world’s top two sides.
Kearney, one of the game’s best defenders under a high ball, returns at full-back in place of 21-year-old Jordan Larmour, who drops back to the bench after struggling under a barrage of towering Argentinean kicks last week.
Ireland’s lineout also malfunctioned in the lacklustre 28-17 win over Argentina and coach Joe Schmidt will call on Toner to rectify that, with one of the most reliable players of his tenure coming in for Iain Henderson.
The only two other changes were enforced with Garry Ringrose, another key man returning to fitness, and Dan Leavy coming in at centre and flanker for the injured pair of Robbie Henshaw and Sean O’Brien.
Ireland, who moved up to second place in the world rankings during last season’s victorious Six Nations campaign, will be looking for only their second victory over the All Blacks that would lay down a major marker ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“It’s always an achievement to beat the All Blacks, that’s why we limit ourselves to once every 115 years because we don’t want to get carried away with things,” Schmidt, a New Zealander, joked, referring to Ireland’s 40-29 victory two years ago.
“When they first arrived [in Ireland] in 1905, they were incredibly tough to knock over and I don’t think they’ve changed too much. The depth of their experience, it is formidable and it would be a huge feather in these players’ cap if they could topple them on Saturday.”
Ryan Crotty was the only change to the New Zealand side that started against England on Saturday as coach Steve Hansen named his strongest available team.
Crotty will slot into his more comfortable inside centre role alongside Canterbury Crusaders teammate Jack Goodhue, having shifted between the 12 and 13 jerseys depending on his midfield partner throughout his international career. The 30-year-old comes into the side as a replacement for the injured Sonny Bill Williams.
Hansen resisted the temptation to make any further changes against the world’s No.2 side and stuck with the dual playmaker option from last week, with Damian McKenzie retained at full-back and Beauden Barrett at fly-half.
Ireland team to play New Zealnd
15. Rob Kearney 14. Keith Earls 13 Garry Ringrose 12. Bundee Aki 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Jonathan Sexton 9. Kieran Marmion 1. Cian Healy 2. Rory Best (captain) 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Devin Toner 5. James Ryan 6. Peter O’Mahony 7. Dan Leavy 8. CJ Stander
Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin 17. Jack McGrath 18. Andrew Porter 19. Iain Henderson 20. Josh van der Flier 21. Luke McGrath 22. Joey Carbery 23. Jordan Larmour.