Paul O’Connell and perhaps Tomas O’Leary aside, Ireland will field its best first XV for the visit of the mighty All Blacks tomorrow (Saturday).
It’s a key moment for an Irish team that has struggled to find its best form this year.
Losses to Scotland and South Africa at home, as well as a disastrous tour to Australia and New Zealand in June, have created major headaches for coach Declan Kidney.
A good performance against the best team in the world may spark a new trajectory towards the World Cup next September. A humiliating loss may threaten Kidney’s job.
But the good news is that Kidney is fielding his best possible back-line. Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Luke Fitzgerald are world class 11 to 15.
Eoin Reddan has held off the legitimate claims of Peter Stringer to regain his spot at the base of the scrum.
The Irish back-row also looks formidable with Jamie Heaslip flanked by David Wallace and Stephen Ferris.
Mick O’Driscoll joins Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row in the absence of the irreplaceable Paul O’Connell.
Meanwhile, Queensland-born Tom Court packs down in the front row alongside Rory Best and Cian Healy.
In total, there are 11 changes following the 20-10 victory over Samoa at Aviva Stadium last weekend.
The final scoreline against South Africa failed to paint an accurate picture of a dispiriting performance from Ireland and Kidney felt it important to issue a vote of confidence.
“We know our error count against South Africa and that’s what we’ve been trying to rectify,” said the head coach.
“It’s why we’ve gone with this team. The players deserve another go.
“Sometimes you must back players and that’s what we’re doing.”
Kidney today added his own cryptic take on the matter of Ireland’s lack of self belief as Ireland target a first victory against the All Blacks in 24 attempts.
“I’ve never met anyone who is 100% confident,” he said.
“Everybody doubts their ability, so by definition you could say everyone in the world lacks confidence.
“Heading into every match you need a mixture of confidence and ability. If you don’t have fear, you won’t front up physically.
“The more matches you win, the more confidence you have, so you have to work on the fear factor.
“If you lose, you want to make sure the fear doesn’t outbalance the confidence.
“I’ve already alluded to the anxiety of trying too hard and I know how hard these guys are working.”
New Zealand’s coach Graeme Henry has decided to bench league convert Sonny Bill Williams despite a man-of-the-match performance against Scotland.
Sonny Bill is one of six changes from the side which inflicted a 49-3 humiliation of the Scots.
Lock Tom Donnelly will be deployed in his first start since the match with Australia in Hong Kong last month while Jerome Kaino returns to blindside flanker in place of Liam Messam.
Andy Ellis, a replacement at Murrayfield, starts at half-back while Ma’a Nonu is back alongside Conrad Smith in the centres. Cory Jane is fit to start on the right wing after chest and shoulder problems.
Captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina will win their 93rd Test caps to become their countries leading appearance makers having both equalled former captain Sean Fitzpatrick’s record last weekend.
Henry said: “One of the aims of this tour is to build the foundations of the team for the future so there have only been a few changes from the team that beat Scotland.
“We were pleased with the physicality and accuracy shown against the Scots and we will look to improve on that this weekend. However, the team also knows they will up against a very good Irish team which they respect.”
Lock Brad Thorn had failed to recover from his minor hamstring strain and has been withdrawn from the side.
The reshuffle sees Boric promoted to the starting line-up with Whitelock named on the bench.
Teams for Ireland v New Zealand, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, November 20, 5.30pm.
Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D’Arcy (Leinster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster); J Sexton (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), T Court (Ulster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), J Hayes (Munster), D Toner (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), R O’Gara (Munster), K Earls (Munster).
New Zealand: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, H Gear; D Carter, A Ellis; T Woodcock, H Elliot, O Franks, A Boric, T Donnelly, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.
Replacements: A Hore, J Afoa, S Whitelock, L Messam, A Mathewson, S Donald, S B Williams.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa) and Carlo Damasco (Italy).
Live coverage of the match from Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road from 4.30am AESST on FoxSports.
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Cheers!…
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