LIVE on Sky Sport – Saturday 9 November: All Blacks vs Ireland, 9.10AM (NZST). Highlights available on NZR+ and All Blacks YouTube.
All Blacks match-day 23 (caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (16)
2. Asafo Aumua (17)
3. Tyrel Lomax (41)
4. Scott Barrett (77) (Captain)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (35)
6. Wallace Sititi (7)
7. Sam Cane (102)
8. Ardie Savea (91) (Vice-Captain)
9. Cortez Ratima (9)
10. Damian McKenzie (58)
11. Caleb Clarke (26)
12. Jordie Barrett (66) (Vice-Captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (78)
14. Mark Tele’a (17)
15. Will Jordan (38)
16. George Bell (2)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (65)
18. Pasilio Tosi (5)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (48)
20. Samipeni Finau (6)
21. Cam Roigard (7)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (81)
23. Stephen Perofeta (6)
Unavailable due to injury: Codie Taylor (concussion), Beauden Barrett (concussion), Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (upper hamstring)
There are just two injury-enforced changes to the line-up that beat England at Twickenham last week. With Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett both ruled out due to concussions, Asafo Aumua will start at hooker and George Bell will look to make his third All Blacks appearance off the bench, while Damian McKenzie slots back into the number 10 jersey and Stephen Perofeta comes into the reserves as backs cover.
The All Blacks and Ireland have not met since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter final, and All Blacks Head Coach Scott 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.”
MATCH FACTS
The All Blacks have played 27 Tests against Ireland since 1905 for a record of 21 wins, 5 losses and one draw.
Last time the teams met was during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris where the All Blacks won a thrilling Test 28-24.
Ireland’s first win over the All Blacks came on neutral soil during a 40-29 win in Chicago in 2016.
The teams have played in Dublin 18 times and five times at Aviva Stadium since their first meeting at the venue in 2010.
Aviva Stadium holds 52,000 fans and was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road ground where the sides met on 17 occasions, including their first match in 1905.