All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has named his team to face Ireland in Saturday’s late kick-off quarterfinal at the Stade de France in Paris.
Returning Star
In the front row, Ethan de Groot returns to partner Codie Taylor and Tyrell Lomax in the front row. The loosehead was banned for three weeks following a red card against Namibia in their pool match. His suspension was brought down a week following his completion of World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
Behind them, Brodie Retallick forms an experienced secondrow partnership with Scott Barrett.
Completing the pack, Sam Cane returns to captain the side in the number seven shirt alongside Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea in the backrow.
Pulling the strings in the halfbacks, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga link up once again. Whilst in the midfield, Jordie Barrett and Reiko Ioane form the centre partnership.
Finally, in the back three, Leicester Fainga’anuku edges out Mark Telea on the left wing to partner Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett.
Replacements
On the bench, experienced hooker Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell provide the front-row cover. Joining them are New Zealand’s most experienced ever All Black Sam Whitelock and Auckland Blues captain Dalton Papali’i.
Completing the bench are scrumhalf Finlay Christie, utility back Damian McKenzie and centre Anton Lienart-Brown.
New Zealand will face Ireland at 9 pm local on Saturday, October 14th.
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