Ireland v All Blacks
Kick-off: 9:10am Sunday 2 November NZT
Soldier Field, Chicago
Live blog coverage on RNZ
Four changes but no real surprises is the best way to describe Scott Robertson's selections for this Sunday morning's test against Ireland. By the sounds of things, none of the players would've been surprised too as Robertson said they "picked themselves".
"You always consider combinations, what we thought was best for this group. We know how putting our finishing side of a game is and the players picked themselves because they're in good form," he told media at the team hotel today in Chicago.
That finishing will be tested with the absence of veteran Patrick Tuipulotu, who has been ruled out of the tour. Josh Lord takes his place on the bench as lock cover, however with Scott Barrett as captain and Fabian Holland having already played 80 minutes four times this season already, it is tempting to view Lord as an emergency replacement only.
"The Irish have a good bench too, don't they?" said Robertson.
"A lot of experience and some key players on there…some good combinations and guys that can cover different positions."
The All Blacks can boast a few of those players on their own bench, especially since Leicester Fainga'anuku has now seemingly edged ahead of Rieko Ioane in that depth chart battle.
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 14: Leicester Fainga'anuku of New Zealand scores his team's first try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Ireland and New Zealand at Stade de France on October 14, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) Photo: Getty Images/Chris Hyde
"It's good to give (Fainga'anuku) a crack and show his strengths. And obviously he's played a lot of midfield in France and then come back with Tasman."
In another intriguing internal match up, Peter Lakai has won the race over Wallace Sititi for now at least. Lakai will start at number eight for the second test in a row, something he is grateful for after an injury-disrupted season.
"I worked hard to get back into this environment and then put in the hard yards at training and then got a few opportunities in the Rugby Championship and then an opportunity again this week," said Lakai.
Skyline during All Blacks training, Chicago, United States. Photo: ActionPress
The match at Soldier Field is sold out, with a crowd of 62,000 expected in for an afternoon kick-off local time. The stadium is usually the home to the Chicago Bears NFL team, which means the field will be slightly shorter and narrower than usual, however Robertson said it wouldn't be an issue.
"The training ground (at the University of Illinois) is very similar, so we didn't have to do too much. It it was sort of crammed in…we manufactured a field just to replicate what where going to play."
Once again, Robertson had to field questions about the last time the All Blacks played in Chicago, which was long before his time as coach. However, he confirmed it had been addressed this week within the team environment.
"It was an historic time, a number of years ago. So we can get back into that and understand what it takes. You know, there's going to be a lot of green there, it's not a Aviva Stadium, but it'll be pretty close."
Team lists
Ireland: 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (c), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. James Ryan, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Tommy O'Brien, 15. Jamie Osborne
Bench: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Caelan Doris, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Sam Prendergast, 23. Bundee Aki
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Leicester Fainga'anuku, 23. Damian McKenzie
