Ireland Team Named For New Zealand Series Decider

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has made one change to the team who won in Dunedin last week ahead of the Series decider against New Zealand at the Sky Stadium in Wellington (Kick-off 7.05pm NZ time/8.05am Irish time). Bundee Aki comes in for the injured Garry Ringrose and partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield. Johnny Sexton, who celebrated his 37th birthday this week, leads the team as he wins his 108th cap, equalling Paul O’Connell’s tally for Ireland. Sexton will be partnered by Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs with the back three of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe retained. The pack from the first two Tests lines out again in the final game of the tour with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row and Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan at lock. Peter O’Mahony is at six, Josh van der Flier at seven and Caelan Doris is named at No.8. The replacements include Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls. The third Test against New Zealand will be broadcast live on SKY and RTE Radio.

Ireland v New Zealand

SKY Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 16th July, 2022 KO: 8.05am Irish Time 15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 22 caps 14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps 13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 59 caps 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 39 caps 11. James Lowe (Leinster) 14 caps 10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 107 caps CAPTAIN 9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 19 caps 1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps 2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 9 caps 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 59 caps 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 32 caps 5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps 6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 86 caps 7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps 8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 19 caps Replacements 16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps 17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 117 caps 18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps 19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps 20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps 21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps 22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps 23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps