Ireland have brought back their big names for the crunch Nations Championship clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.
Andy Farrell has made nine changes to the line-up that beat Japan 36-20 last week, restoring his side to full strength, with many of the 2025 British and Irish Lions returning to the starting XV.
Rob Baloucoune returns on the right wing after missing Ireland’s wins over Japan and Australia because of a hamstring injury.
Center Garry Ringrose, out-half Sam Prendergast, full-back Hugo Keenan, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, back-rower Josh van der Flier, lock Joe McCarthy, hooker and captain Dan Sheehan and prop Tadhg Furlong also are back in the starting line-up after missing last week.
Six players remain from the win over Japan, while 13 remain from the team that beat Australia 33-21.
New Zealand boss Dave Rennie has boosted the All Blacks bench by name winger Caleb Clarke and back-rower Peter Lakai, who both started against France, among the reserves on Saturday.
“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,” Rennie said.
Wingers Fehi Fineanganofo and Leroy Carter both were unavailable for the All Blacks because of shoulder injuries, hastening Moorby’s promotion to the starting side.
Tyrel Lomax again has been favoured at tighthead prop over Fletcher Newell.
Tupou Vaa’i has been shifted from lock to blindside flanker in the All Blacks’ starting XV, Rennie makes four changes to the side which beat Italy.
Josh Moorby, who made his debut last week against Italy, has been rewarded with a first start, while Quinn Tupaea returns to the centre and Josh Lord and Patrick Tuipulotu will form the second row.
Xavier Numia and Anton Segner, who both made their debuts in recent tests, have been named on the bench.
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Caleb Clark.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Tom O’Toole.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.
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Maro Itoje gives his opinion on the discussions for the British and Irish Lions to play a match against France in 2029 or touring elsewhere
Wales make six changes for clash against South Africa
Louis Rees-Zammit returns for Wales
Steve Tandy has freshened up his Wales team for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Durban.
Tandy has made six changes from the side beaten 35-21 by Argentina last weekend, with Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Dan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn and Louis Rees-Zammit coming in.
Captain Dewi Lake is fit to start having been a doubt with a groin injury this week but Ben Carter misses out with an ankle problem suffered in training on Wednesday.
Tandy has broken up the established centre pairing of Eddie James and Joe Hawkins, with Thomas and Llewellyn coming in.
“I think it’s a bit of freshness in the centres,” said the Wales head coach. “I thought the combination with Joe and Eddie has been excellent for us but we feel Max and Ben deserve an opportunity.
“Max I thought did really well for us in the autumn, unfortunately he got injured, and then Ben has responded really well since being left out from the England game.
“It’s exciting for us. Moving things around, freshening up, there’s lots of travel. And obviously it’s the back end of the season so it’s a good opportunity for us to try a few different combinations.”
Williams returned from a serious foot injury against the Barbarians last month, and Tandy added: “It’s brilliant for Teddy, how hard he’s worked, and obviously it was a horrific injury.
“The way he’s come back, the way he’s trained and playing against the Barbarians, I thought he had a real impact when he came off the bench on the weekend. It’s thoroughly well deserved.”
The loss to Argentina followed a morale-boosting win against Fiji, but taking on the Springboks in Durban is undoubtedly a formidable task.
Tandy sees it as an opportunity for his men, saying: “It’s definitely going to be a physical encounter, you see the set-piece, every breakdown.
“It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us to pitch up against South Africa and test ourselves against the best team in the world in their own home. It’s going to be exciting for us but we know what they bring.
“I’ve loved the year, it’s been awesome for me, I’ve loved getting to know the boys. I think we’re developing as a team and finishing off our season with a game against the world champions is outstanding for us and another opportunity to experience different things.”
With Carter sidelined, Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas comes into the matchday squad on the bench having flown out to South Africa as injury cover.
“It’s a baptism of fire for Freddie,” added Tandy. “He was unlucky not to be in the 33, he came in, trained well and it’s a great opportunity for him.”
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Teddy Williams, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 James Botham, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Joe Hawkins.
2026 Nations Championship summer fixtures – all kick-off times BST
July 4
- New Zealand 34-32 France
- Japan 27-10 Italy
- Australia 31-33 Ireland
- Fiji 24-39 Wales
- South Africa 45-21 England
- Argentina 38-47 Scotland
July 11
July 18
- New Zealand vs Ireland (8.10am)
- Japan vs France (9.40am)
- Australia vs Italy (11.10am)
- Fiji vs Scotland (2.10pm)
- South Africa vs Wales (4.40pm)
- Argentina vs England (8.10pm)
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