Dan Sheehan returns to captain Ireland against All Blacks at Eden Park

40-Test hooker Dan Sheehan returns to captain Ireland in a Nations Championship showdown with the All Blacks at Eden Park, brought straight into the run-on side after missing the 36-20 win over Japan in Newcastle.

Sheehan put in a 60-minute shift in a thrilling two-point win over the Wallabies a fortnight ago but wasn’t selected to face the Brave Blossoms. Tadhg Berine took on leadership duties for that Test, after coming off the bench a week earlier.

Coach Andy Farrell has shifted Beirne to the loose forwards as Ireland look to end New Zealand’s remarkable unbeaten streak at the Garden. Beirne is joined in the backrow by openside Josh van der Flier and No. 8 Jack Conan, all of whom have played for the British & Irish Lions.

In the tight five, Tom O’Toole and Tadhg Furlong will pack down alongside Sheehan up front. The second row is made up of Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, while the likes of Ronan Kelleher and Thomas Charlson will provide forward cover off the bench.

New Zealand-born Jamison Gibson-Park will link up with Sam Prendergast in the halves. They will have the experienced centre pairing of Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose outside them, with those two boasting more than 100 Test caps between them.

Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien starts on one wing, with Ulster flyer Robert Baloucoune on the other side of the field. British & Irish Lion Hugo Keenan rounds out the starting side at fullback, with Bundee Aki named in the replacements.

Ireland claimed a famous 2-1 series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand four years ago, but will need to make more history if they are to win Saturday’s Test. The All Blacks are on a 52-game unbeaten run at Eden Park.

The match will get underway at 7:10 pm local time on Saturday evening.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

28

21

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

20%

Ireland team to play the All Blacks at Eden Park

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(47)
14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(75)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(30)
11. Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(13)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(16)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(52)

1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(23)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(40)(captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(87)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(25)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(82)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(72)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(80)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(61)

Replacements

16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(50)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(9)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(15)
19. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(13)
20. Sean Jansen (Connacht)(1)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(29)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(14)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(71)