All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has confirmed his 23-man squad for his side’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland in Japan this Saturday.
The biggest selection question was who would start in the midfield for the reigning champions and Hansen has decided to go with the duo of Anton Leinert-Brown and Jack Goodhue who started the last game against Namibia. Meaning that Sonny Bill Williams takes a place among the replacements with Ryan Crotty missing out completely.
As well as Crotty fellow veteran Ben Smith has been dropped from the squad as Hansen has chosen Jordie Barrett to cover the back-three from the bench.
Elsewhere it is what you would expect with Joe Moody, Cody Taylor and Nepo Laulala opening the game in the front-row, while Hansen has taken a risk by starting Brodie Retallick alongside Sam Whitelock in the engine-room, with the former having played very little rugby in recent times.
Ardie Savea has been handed the No 6 jersey, with Sam Cane wearing No 7 and captain Keiran Reid completes the forwards from No 8.
Aaron Smith has pipped TJ Perenara to start at scrum-half and is joined by Richie Mo’unga in the half-back partnership as Leinert-Brown and Goodhue are outside them in the centre.
George Bridge has been selected on the left-wing, with Sevu Reece on the right and Beauden Barrett finishes the starting XV from full-back.
There is plenty of talent among the reserves with the likes of Dane Coles and Scott Barrett joining players such as Sonny Bill and Perenara on the bench.
Speaking ahead of the game Hansen confirmed that all of his 31-man squad were available for selection but he chose the players that impressed him the most so far.
“This is a great reflection on the players themselves and the staff who have done a great job getting them through the Pool Play phase of the tournament. We are very happy where the team is at at this stage and it feels like the team is right where it needs to be for what will be a physical and fiercely-fought encounter,” he said.
New Zealand are not only hot favourites for this game but to go on and win the whole tournament for the third successive time, but Ireland have defeated the mighty All Blacks in two of their past three encounters meaning they will need to be at their best if they are to make it past the men in green.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.
Starting XV:
Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody
Replacements:
Dane Coles, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett
