Dave Rennie has named a super-sized All Blacks pack to take on Ireland at Eden Park, with lock Tupou Vaa'i at blindside flanker and Patrick Tuipulotu starting alongside Josh Lord in the second row.
Vaa'i's presence in the No.6 jersey will bring height to the All Blacks' lineout and extra heft elsewhere as they seek to blunt Ireland's threat up front before attempting to run them off their feet in the second half.
The three locks in the starting line-up allow Rennie to name two loose forwards - Anton Segner and Peter Lakai - on the reserves bench.
Vaa'i, who started at lock alongside Sam Darry last weekend, last started at blindside flanker during the All Blacks defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires last year. He was listed as one of four locks in the 34-man squad announced last month.
Tuipulotu was a late withdrawal from the Test against France due to a tight calf and was not involved against Italy.
His lack of recent game time suggests Vaa'i will replace him in the second row after the break, with Peter Lakai the obvious choice to pack down at blindside flank. Segner, who made his Test debut off the bench last week, is a likely replacement for openside flanker Luke Jacobson.
READ MORE: Three NZers named in Ireland's match-day squad
In another minor surprise, Josh Moorby, who also made his Test debut off the bench against Italy, starts on the left wing ahead of Caleb Clarke, who is on the bench. Fehi Fineanganofo and Leroy Carter are unavailable due to shoulder injuries.
Hurricane Moorby, who impressed against Italy, will likely face an aerial bombardment as the Irish seek to unsettle him on Saturday.
In total, there are four changes and one positional change to the starting XV last weekend.
There is no room for Wallace Sititi, who struggled after starting at blindside flanker last weekend, or Beauden Barrett, who has not been named in any of Rennie's three match-day squads this month.
Quinn Tupaea replaces Billy Proctor at centre, with the record-breaking Will Jordan not surprisingly retained on the right wing and Damian McKenzie at fullback for the third Test in a row.
“Ireland have been one of the best sides in the world for a number of years now," Rennie said of the No.3-ranked Irish. "They are very experienced and well-coached and will have belief on the back of their recent success here. We are well aware of the challenge they pose.
“We have selected a strong team that allows some of the combinations we have tested to continue building, and rewards players who have impressed over the last two rounds, including some of our recent debutants,” he said.
“We know how important our bench will be against a team as tenacious as Ireland, so have selected players who we know are capable of making an impact and influencing the course of the game.”
Match facts
- The All Blacks have played Ireland 39 times in total for 33 wins, 5 losses and a draw.
- While the All Blacks have won the last three Tests against the Irish, all played away, they lost the last two Tests played at home (in 2022).
- Thirteen members of the 23 to play on Saturday were involved in the last Test match against Ireland, which the All Blacks won 26-13 in Chicago.
All Blacks match-day 23 to play Ireland
(Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (42), 2. Codie Taylor (108), 3. Tyrel Lomax (50), 4. Josh Lord (14), 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (56), 6. Tupou Vaa’i (46), 7. Luke Jacobson (26), 8. Ardie Savea (108) (Captain), 9. Cam Roigard (19), 10. Ruben Love (7), 11. Josh Moorby (1), 12. Jordie Barrett (80), 13. Quinn Tupaea (25), 14. Will Jordan (56), 15. Damian McKenzie (76).
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (21), 17. Xavier Numia (1), 18. Fletcher Newell (36), 19. Anton Segner (1), 20. Peter Lakai (9), 21. Cortez Ratima (23), 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (89), 23. Caleb Clarke (34).
Unavailable due to injury: Fehi Fineanganofo (shoulder); Leroy Carter (shoulder)
Ireland
1. Tom O’Toole, 2. Dan Sheehan (c), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Sam Prendergast, 11. Jimmy O’Brien, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 15. Hugo Keenan.
Reserves: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Thomas Clarkson, 19. Nick Timoney, 20. Sean Jansen, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Bundee Aki.
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia).
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