Dave Rennie on why Josh Moorby provides coaching staff with 'confidence'

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has opted for one-Test Hurricanes winger Josh Moorby over Caleb Clarke for this weekend’s Nations Championship Test against Ireland at Eden Park.

Moorby made his Test debut at Hnry Stadium last Saturday in the All Blacks’ 47-17 victory over Italy, coming on with over 50 minutes to play, with Leroy Carter succumbing to a shoulder injury.

Clarke, who started the first Test of the year against France, is in the No.23 jersey at his home patch, with the versatile Hurricanes outside back chosen to start ahead of him.

Rennie, who explained his selections to media in Auckland on Thursday, said Moorby has made an incredible start to his All Blacks career and has trained the house down.

“Yeah, he was so impressive. I wouldn’t say surprised [with performance against Italy]. I was really pleased for him,” Rennie said in Auckland.

“He’s he’s been excellent all year, and for him to come on quite early and play with that sort of confidence was awesome.

“So it gives us a lot of confidence to throw him out there. He trained superbly, and he’s just a really good footballer, massive engine, massive work rate, and he’s looking forward to his first start.”

On why Rennie and his coaching staff made the tough decision to start the Moorby over Clarke, the head coach explained that having the Blues outside back as impact was the best mix for the Ireland Test.

“It’s competitive, and he went well in the first test. We just think Josh is very good defensively, got a really good understanding of how we want to defend.

“He’s really good under the high ball. He’s got a massive work rate, and on both sides of the park. And we just felt that that performance deserved a start.

“Caleb is a big man, explosive, again, generally strong under the high ball, and so he’ll give us a lot of impact off the bench.”

“We want to win every game, so our focus has been on whoever we’re playing next, we’re well aware that the Irish will be a tough game, it’ll be strong, and it’s at Eden Park, and that’ll excite a lot of people.

“So, yeah, I wouldn’t say that we’ve highlighted the Irish game any more than the other games, but now we are because it’s right in front of us.

“That’s no disrespect to them, it’s just that we’re a very new group, and our focus has been on what’s in front of us.”