All Blacks Head Coach Dave Rennie has named his team to play Ireland in the final round of the Nations Championship Southern Series. 

In the backs, midfielder Quinn Tupaea returns to the starting line-up, and Josh Moorby [pictured] has been promoted from the bench to start at wing after an impressive debut in Wellington.  

Recent debutants Anton Segner and Xavier Numia will also have the opportunity to add a second cap from the bench. Numia will be joined by Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell in the reserve front row.  

Peter Lakai and Caleb Clarke also return to the 23, adding to a bench full of impact players. 

“Ireland have been one of the best sides in the world for a number of years now. 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,” Rennie 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.” 

All Blacks match-day 23 (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)  

Replacements:
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) 

Rennie has made four changes and one positional change to the starting fifteen that beat Italy last weekend.  Tupou Vaa’i shifts from lock to blindside flanker, while Josh Lord and Patrick Tuipulotu start at lock. 

Ireland Team

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(47)
14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(75)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(30)
11. Jimmy O'Brien (Naas/Leinster)(13)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(16)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(52)
1. Tom O'Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(23)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(40)(captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(87)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(25)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(82)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(72)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(80)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(61)

Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(50)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(9)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(15)
19. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(13)
20. Sean Jansen (Connacht)(1)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(29)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(14)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(71).

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. 

The All Blacks hold a 52-Test unbeaten streak at Eden Park, stretching back to July 1994. Over this 32-year period they have recorded 50 wins and 2 draws.