International
PREVIEW: All Blacks v Wales (Cardiff)
The All Blacks kick off the European leg of the Healthspan Elite Northern Tour with a blockbuster clash against Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday morning (NZT).
Match Details: All Blacks v Wales, Sunday November 6, 4.15am NZT (Live on Sky Sport)
Played: 36
Won: All Blacks 33, Wales 3
Last time: All Blacks 54, Wales 16 (30 October 2021)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
INJURIES AND REPLACEMENTS
Openside flanker and captain Sam Cane, hooker Dane Coles and wing Will Jordan are out of the tour. Cane fractured his cheekbone in the 38-31 win against Japan in Tokyo, Dane Coles injured his calf during the warm-up to the same Test while Jordan is out with a “persisting vestibular [balance] issue.” Brodie Retallick has been suspended for two games following his red card against Japan, so who’s left? In the forwards, Shannon Frizell is all that remains from the team that started against Japan. Just three players who started last week in the backs return too with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Braydon Ennor released to play for the All Blacks XV in Ireland.
While it may sound like major disruption, there are only three changes from the line-up that defeated Australia 40-14 in Auckland almost six weeks ago, one of the All Blacks best performances of the season.
AARON’S LONGEVITY
Aaron Smith is set to surpass Dan Carter as the most capped back in All Blacks history, playing his 113th Test. The champion halfback was born in Palmerston North in 1988 and attended Feilding High School where he played in the same First XV as Sam Whitelock.
In 2008, Smith was part of the New Zealand Under 20 side which claimed the Junior World Championship in Wales and in 2010, the Ngati Kahungunu-affiliated Smith made his Māori All Blacks debut. His All Blacks debut was in a 42-10 win against Ireland in 2012. Since then, he has started 91 Tests, won the 2015 World Cup, scored 21 tries, and played a record 175 games for the Highlanders in Super Rugby along the way.
HOPEFUL WALES
Rio Dyer has been handed a Test debut on the wing after a lightning start to the season with the Dragons. Elsewhere, Gareth Anscombe (Rosmini College) is deemed fit to be named at first five while Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny and captain Justin Tipuric all return from long-term injuries to start. Unusually Tipuric will play blindside to accommodate in-form openside Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers). Taulupe Faletau is an exceptional loose forward, Louis Rees-Zammit one of the brightest young talents in the game and Alun Wyn Jones a timeless veteran.
Wales only won a single game in the Six Nations but with the return of senior backbone is a fighting chance to break the All Blacks five Test winning streak.
BARNES AND THE HISTORIC WHISTLE
Another interesting sub-story in this Test is referee Wayne Barnes who will mark his 100th Test by starting the game with the whistle used in the famous 1905 Test between Wales and the All Blacks. Wales won 3-0, but the game has forever been remembered for the non-awarding of a try to All Blacks centre Bob Deans who maintained, until his premature death in 1908 from complications after an appendix operation, that he had scored a fair try. Read more about it HERE.
Teams (caps in brackets):
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot (10), 2. Codie Taylor (73), 3. Tyrel Lomax (21), 4. Samuel Whitelock (140-C) 5. Scott Barrett (55), 6. Shannon Frizell (22), 7. Dalton Papali’i (19), 8. Ardie Savea (67), 9. Aaron Smith (113), 10. Richie Mo’unga (42), 11. Caleb Clarke (12), 12. Jordie Barrett (45), 13. Rieko Ioane (56), 14. Sevu Reece (22), 15. Beauden Barrett (109)
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (18), 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (49), 18. Fletcher Newell (4), 19. Tupou Vaa’i (16), 20. Akira Ioane (19), 21. Brad Weber (17), 22. David Havili (22), 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (57).
Wales: 1. Gareth Thomas (13), 2. Ken Owens (82), 3. Tomas Francis (65), 4. Will Rowlands (21), 5. Adam Beard (37), 6. Justin Tipuric (85-C), 7. Tommy Reffell (3), 8. Taulupe Faletau (91), 9. Tomos Williams (36), 10. Gareth Anscombe (32), 11. Rio Dyer (Debut), 12. Nick Tompkins (23), 13. George North (105), 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (19), 15. Leigh Halfpenny (96)
Reserves: 16. Ryan Elias (30), 17. Nicky Smith (41), 18. Dillon Lewis (41), 19. Alun Wyn Jones (153), 20. Christ Tshiunza (2), 21. Kieran Hardy (14), 22. Rhys Priestland (52), 23. Owen Watkin (33)
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
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