All Blacks v Ireland: Scott Robertson names squad for Dublin test
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is backing “world class” Damian McKenzie after selecting him in the 10 jersey to face Ireland on Saturday.
McKenzie’s return was one of two injury-enforced changes to the starting line-up to face the world number one side.
Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett were both ruled out due to concussions suffered in the win over England at Twickenham last week, meaning Asafo Aumua will start at hooker while McKenzie returns in the 10 jersey.
McKenzie started the first eight tests of the season at first five-eighth before being moved to the bench for the second Bledisloe Cup test win. He came off the bench last Sunday kicking a penalty and a vital sideline conversion to complete the comeback win.
“D-Mac is D-Mac, you get a bit of everything from him. When he’s on, he’s world-class and he showed some great touches and just kept believing in himself,” Robertson said today.
Robertson added when McKenzie is not on: “You just trust him.”
Aumua will make his third start of the season after playing 75 minutes last week. He is the only player to appear in every test this season.
George Bell will look to make his third All Blacks appearance off the bench, while Stephen Perofeta comes into the reserves as backs cover.
Prop Ethan de Groot misses out on the match-day squad for the second straight week after being dropped from selection to face England for not meeting “internal standards”.
Robertson said it was a ‘performance decision’ to go with Tamaiti Williams over de Groot.
“It’s a decision for the whole season. He’s [Williams] a 50-60 minute player. Got a couple of tough calls, we believe, last week against him. And he’s fit and ready to go and he’ll continue,” Robertson said.
Robertson said with a six-day turnaround between the England and Ireland tests, keeping continuity in the side was behind his selection calls.
“Trying to keep the continuity of the squad as much as possible, just with our training week and the six days. We’ve had some really good performances and good cohesion.”
The All Blacks and Ireland have not met since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, and Robertson said the match will be fresh in the minds of many fans heading along to the game.
“This is a highly anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field.
“We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England. We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team.”
Nine starters in the All Blacks side named for the Dublin test were in the squad that defeated Ireland in Paris.
Meanwhile, Ireland will be without prop Tadhg Furlong who suffered a reported groin injury at training.
All Blacks side to play Ireland:
1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea (vice-captain) 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett (vice-captain), 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele’a, 15. Will Jordan.
Replacements: 16. George Bell, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Stephen Perofeta.
Ireland side to play All Blacks:
1. Andrew Porter, 2. Rónan Kelleher, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (captain), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Mack Hansen, 15. Hugo Keenan.
Replacements: 16. Rob Herring, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne
Inside the bitter feud between Ireland and All Blacks
Cameron McMillan
The All Blacks will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday for the first time since their epic World Cup encounter last year. It was one of the all-time classics in Paris – New Zealand once again breaking Irish hearts with a 27-24 victory.
But it has transpired that there was genuine bad blood between the two teams, with former captain Johnny Sexton revealing in his autobiography that he and Rieko Ioane had an ugly spat after the final whistle. Gregor Paul looks at how this conflict began and escalated.
No live stream
Cameron McMillan
Technical issues in Dublin means there won't be a live stream from Scott Robertson. But stay tuned. We'll have his explanations for his selections hot off the press from Ireland this morning.
Cameron McMillan
"What the All Blacks would give for a safe pair of experienced hands to step in," writes Liam Napier.
"But with Dane Coles retired and Samisoni Taukei’aho injured until next year, Robertson will turn to Asafo Aumua and George Bell against Ireland."
How things have changed
Cameron McMillan
The All Blacks team that last lined up against Ireland, at the World Cup. Players in bold will play this weekend.
1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (c), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 11 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Beauden Barrett.
Replacements:
16 Dane Coles, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Dalton Papali'i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
And the Irish team from that quarter-final:
1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Iain Henderson, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Mack Hansen, 15 Hugo Keenan
Replacements:
16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Jimmy O’Brien.
So who leads the haka?
Cameron McMillan
No Codie Taylor or TJ Perenara.
Scott Robertson press conference 6.15am
Cameron McMillan
The All Blacks coach will talk about his selections in a press conference in just over 30 minutes.
Interesting stats
Cameron McMillan
Asafo Aumua is the only All Black to have appeared in every test in 2024. He'll make his 12th straight appearance and his third start of the season at hooker.
Sam Cane will make his seventh straight start going back to the first test in South Africa.
Razor on his side
Cameron McMillan
“This is a highly anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field.
“We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England. We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team.”
No other changes
Cameron McMillan
Both changes to the All Blacks are injuring enforced. Cortez Ratima retains the starting halfback role with Cam Roigard on the bench.
The wings remain the same as well.
The All Blacks team is out
Cameron McMillan
Just the two changes to the starting 15 with Asafo Aumua in for Codie Taylor and Damian McKenzie at 10 for Beuaden Barrett.
Both Taylor and Barrett failed HIA tests during the win over England and have a stand-down period for that.
On the bench George Bell is the replacement hooker while Stephen Perofeta takes McKenzie's spot in the 23 jersey.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell
Cameron McMillan
“I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal. Since assembling at the IRFU high performance centre last week, the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team,” Farrell said.
“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side. The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night under lights with a home crowd roaring us on.”
Ireland team to face the All Blacks
Cameron McMillan
No Tadhg Furlong for Ireland.
Ireland: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Jack Crowley, 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Mack Hansen, 15 Hugo Keenan.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne
Team naming soon
Cameron McMillan
The All Blacks team will be announced at 5am.
New faces
Cameron McMillan
The All Blacks called in first five Harry Plummer and hooker Brodie McAlister into the squad earlier in the week.
Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor both failed an in-game head injury assessment (HIA) against Ireland.
Taylor lasted only five minutes before he was replaced, and Barrett was forced from the field in the second half.
As a result, the pair of Plummer and McAlister joined up with the All Blacks in Dublin, having been involved with the All Blacks XV’s victory over Munster on Sunday.
All Blacks v Ireland, Saturday 9.10am
Live commentary on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Live match blog at nzherald.co.nz