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Eight capped players included in All Blacks XV to take on Ireland A
Head coach Leon MacDonald has named the first-ever All Blacks XV match-day 23 for this Friday’s fixture with the Irish Wolfhounds.
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The All Blacks XV, New Zealand’s second-string side, will include eight capped internationals for the clash, including prop Aidan Ross, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, loose forward Luke Jacobson, halfback TJ Perenara, pivot Damian McKenzie, midfielders Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Braydon Ennor and reserve utility back Josh Ioane.
Tuipulotu, who featured off the pine for the All Blacks in Japan last weekend, will captain the side and partner Highlander Josh Dickson in the second row.
Ross will combine with Brodie McAlister and Tevita Mafileo to round out a formidable tight five.
In the loose forwards, Jacobson will start on the openside flank with first-choice fetcher Billy Harmon currently occupied with All Blacks duties. Dominic Gardiner and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u will take on the blindside flanker and number 8 duties, respectively.
78-Test All Black TJ Perenara has been preferred ahead of young guns Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima in the halfback role while Damian McKenzie has been named in the No 10 jersey.
With Tuivasa-Sheck and Ennor being unloaded to the side from the NZ national side, it’s no surprise that those two will resume their partnership from last weekend’s match against the Brave Blossoms.
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Out wide, AJ Lam and late call-up Shaun Stevenson have been named on the wings and Hurricanes utility Ruben Love will slot in at fullback.
On the bench, 22-year-olds Tyrone Thompson, Finlay Brewis and Tamaiti Williams will add impact in the front row with 21-year-old Zach Gallagher providing locking cover. New Crusaders recruit Christian Lio-Willie has been handed the No 20 jersey while Roigard, Ioane and Alex Nankivell round out the side.
“We are anticipating a huge challenge from Ireland A on Friday,” said MacDonald. “They are a top-tier, physical team with strong attack and defence, as we saw earlier this year against the Maori All Blacks.
“With a short lead in to this first match, we’ve balanced out experience with younger rising talent. The players are all out to showcase their immense skills and strength as a team, they’re excited to get this opportunity to play on an international scale and to represent New Zealand in what will be a proud moment for players and their whanau.”
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With so many players initially named for the All Blacks XV now unavailable, MacDonald has also called up hooker Andrew Makalio and Crusader Tom Christie for the squad.
Friday’s match is set to kick off at 7:45pm GMT from the RDS Arena in Dublin.
All Blacks XV: Ruben Love, Shaun Stevenson, Braydon Ennor, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, AJ Lam, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Luke Jacobson, Dominic Gardiner, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Dickson, Tevita Mafileo, Brodie McAlister, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Zach Gallagher, Christian Lio-Willie, Cam Roigard, Josh Ioane, Alex Nankivell.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments