International
PREVIEW: All Blacks v Australia First Test (Marvel Stadium)
The Bledisloe Cup is back on the line in 2022 when the All Blacks face Australia at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in a crucial Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship clash on Thursday night.
Match details: All Blacks v Australia, Thursday 15 September, 9.45pm NZT, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Played: 173
Won: All Blacks 120, Australia 45, Drawn 8
Last time: All Blacks 38, Australia 21 (5 September 2021)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST DETAILS
WALLABIES PROMISE ‘AGGRESSION’
The Wallabies sent a warning shot across the bow of the All Blacks early this week when world-class wing Marika Koroibete stated that the key to beating the All Blacks was through ‘brutality’. The 30-year-old speedster said that Australia will need to pour the pressure on the All Blacks from the outset to win the game. “Just contest on the ruck. Everyone across the park needs to bring that physicality, dominate the tackle and test their ruck,” Koroibete said. “Just bring aggression on Thursday…That’s what the South Africans and Argies [Argentina] did to them when they won. That’s what we need to bring.”
LOOSE FORWARD RESHUFFLE
Captain Sam Cane will lead the side in a loose forward trio which has undergone forced changes with Shannon Frizell out injured and Ardie Savea remaining in New Zealand for the birth of his third child. Scott Barrett has been selected at blindside flanker, while Hoskins Sotutu is set to feature at number eight for what will be his 11th Test and first of the 2022 season. Barrett’s move to the side of the scrum sees 96-Test lock Brodie Retallick brought back into the run-on side where he will re-join long-time second row partner Samuel Whitelock. In the only change to the reserves, Akira Ioane has been brought in to provide cover alongside fellow specialist loose forward Dalton Papali’i.
FOLEY AT FLYHALF
An unfortunate run of injuries in the first five department for the Wallabies has led to a recall for 71-Test veteran Bernard Foley for the first time since 2019. 32-year-old Foley will combine with Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon at halfback to square off against the All Blacks duo of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga. Foley has been plying his trade for Kubota Spears in Japan and will take inspiration from David Knox who was called into the Wallabies squad in similar circumstances back in 1994 for the famous mid-week victory at Sydney Football Stadium. Utility Reece Hodge will provide first five cover on the bench for Australia.
ALL TO PLAY FOR
With just one point separating all four teams on the ladder the Rugby Championship is the tightest it has been in recent memory. Thursday night’s clash will be crucial to both team’s title hopes and have big ramifications on the Bledisloe Cup. A win for the All Blacks will keep the team in pole position on the ladder and ensure the Bledisloe Cup stays on New Zealand soil for an incredible 20th year. If Australia prevail in Melbourne, then the return clash at Eden Park takes on even more importance with both the Bledisloe Cup and the Rugby Championship on the line.
MARVELOUS MELBOURNE
The opening Bledisloe Cup Test of 2022 will also mark the first time the All Blacks have met the Wallabies in Melbourne since 2010. The teams have squared off four times in Melbourne previously with the win ledger locked at 2-2. The game will also mark a rare mid-week Test for the sides. The last time the teams squared off in a midweek Test, the Wallabies come out on top 20-16 in 1994 with George Gregan pulling off an infamous tackle on Jeff Wilson to secure victory late in the match.
TEAMS (Test caps in brackets):
All Blacks
1.Ethan de Groot (8) 2.Samisoni Taukei’aho (15) 3.Tyrel Lomax (18) 4.Brodie Retallick (96) 5.Samuel Whitelock (138) 6.Scott Barrett (54) 7.Sam Cane © (84) 8.Hoskins Sotutu (10) 9.Aaron Smith (109) 10.Richie Mo’unga (39) 11.Caleb Clarke (9) 12.David Havili (20) 13.Rieko Ioane (54) 14.Will Jordan (19) 15.Jordie Barrett (43)
RESERVES: 16.Dane Coles (83) 17.George Bower (18) 18.Fletcher Newell (3) 19.Akira Ioane (17) 20.Dalton Papali’i (16) 21.Finlay Christie (10) 22.Beauden Barrett (107) 23.Quinn Tupaea (13)
Australia
1: James Slipper (c) (121) 2: David Porecki (5) 3: Allan Alaalatoa (58) 4: Jed Holloway (4) 5:Matt Philip (26) 6: Rob Leota (12) 7: Pete Samu (26) 8: Rob Valetini (25) 9: Jake Gordon (14) 10: Bernard Foley (71) 11: Marika Koroibete (49) 12: Lalakai Foketi (2) 13: Len Ikitau (19) 14: Tom Wright (16) 15: Andrew Kellaway (16)
RESERVES: 16: Folau Fainga’a (31) 17: Scott Sio (73) 18: Pone Fa’amausili (1) 19: Darcy Swain (15) 20: Fraser McReight (6) 21: Nic White (54) 22:Reece Hodge (59) 23: Jordan Petaia (20)
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Cardiff At Thomond
