Farrell Names Ireland Team For Autumn Nations Series Opener Against New Zealand

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Friday's opening Autumn Nations Series clash against New Zealand at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 8.10pm).

Caelan Doris captains Ireland from the back row having previously led the side in the Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy last February and in the Second Test defeat of South Africa in July.Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe start in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield, while Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the number nine jersey alongside Jack Crowley at out-half.

In the pack, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan starting in the engine room. Tadhg Beirne is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.

Farrell has experience to call upon from the replacements bench with Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson and Peter O'Mahony providing the forward reinforcements, while Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne are the backline options.

Looking ahead to the game, Farrell said: “I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal.

"Since assembling at the IRFU HPC last week the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team.

"It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side.

"The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night, under lights, with a home crowd roaring us on.”

Ireland (v New Zealand)

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)

14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(21)

13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(60)

12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(57)

11. James Lowe (Leinster)(33)

10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(16)

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(35)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(66)

2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(33)

3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(42)

4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(12)

5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(64)

6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(52)

7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(64)

8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(43)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(40)

17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(131)

18. Tom O'Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(13)

19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(81)

20. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(107)

21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(118)

22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(6)

23. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(2)

Ireland team named!

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(21)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(60)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(57)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(33)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(16)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(35)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(66)
2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(33)
3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(42)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(12)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(64)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(52)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(64)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(43)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(40)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(131)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(13)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(81)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(107)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(118)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(6)
23. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(2).

Team News incoming...

A reminder that Ireland are set to name their team at 2pm.

Time for Baird?

There has been calls for Leinster's Ryan Baird to be trusted from the start for Ireland. Farrell has often used Baird as an impact substitute over the past couple of years, but he has been putting his hand up to start against the All Blacks.

Tana Umaga: How Ireland shattered the All Blacks' aura and BOD 'speargate' shock

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Tana Umaga says that Ireland's victories over New Zealand in recent years have been central to the All Blacks losing their aura.

The legendary centre won 74 caps for the All Blacks between 1997 and 2005 and was instrumental in maintaining the Kiwis' invincible reputation. It wasn't until 11 years after his retirement at Test level that Ireland beat New Zealand in that historic clash in Chicago in 2016.

Since then the men in green have won five of the nine meetings of the sides, including their breakthrough Test series triumph in New Zealand in 2022, but Ireland have also lost in the last two World Cup quarter-finals to Friday's visitors to the Aviva Stadium.

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All Blacks star explains his Irish roots before big Aviva Stadium debut

By Michael Scully

Caleb Clarke can't wait to face Ireland for the first time - especially because he can trace his family roots to this country.

The massive All Blacks winger has learned that his family came to Samoa to farm potatoes from the north of Ireland some time between the 1920s and 1940s.

“It’s quite exciting," admitted Clarke, whose father, Eroni, played for New Zealand in the 1990s. "I was speaking to my family before we left for the northern tour and my dad and my grandad reminded me that I’ve Irish roots in me and that’s where the Clarkes came from before coming to Samoa.

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The Ireland starting XV that will take the All Blacks by the throat

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But his selection for the Autumn Series opening game is hardly going to contain any surprises. Ireland will pick up where they left off over the summer - except with even less Munster players.

Chief among Farrell's goals is to get Ryan Baird into the side - in a world where bigger is deemed better the six-foot-six, almost 18 stone Leinster player has been occupying his thoughts for some time now.

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Keenan on his way to being first-choice Lions full-back says man he replaced

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But notes Rob Kearney, the man he succeeded on both the Leinster and Ireland teams, the player's route to the top is different.

Keenan's emergence has come via Sevens, previously considered a cul-de-sac by those in the long-form code.

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Selection headaches for Farrell

Andy Farrell will likely have had plenty of selection headaches ahead of this clash between two of the world's best sides.

Perhaps chief among them is the number ten position. Since Johnny Sexton's retirement, Munster's Jack Crowley has shown himself to be a very able replacement.

But Crowley faces competition for the outhalf position from Leinster's Ciaran Frawley, who was the drop-goal hero for Ireland against South Africa this summer.

Frawley has impressed for Leinster this season, while Crowley has been part of a struggling Munster outfit.

Other decisions to be made include the right wing position. Calvin Nash seized his opportunity when Mack Hansen was sideline with an injury, but now Hansen is back in contention, who will get the nod to start on the wing?

These are just some of the questions that will be answered when Andy Farrell names his starting 15 this afternoon.

Stay with us....