Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
jack crawley is beaten Sam Prendergast till ireland Number 10 jersey and captain cailan doris Returns to the bench after being out for the thriller after six months of injury. new zealand in Chicago.
An interesting rivalry has developed between the two teams over the years Ireland’s historic series win On New Zealand soil in the summer of 2022 all black breaking irish hearts A classic Rugby World Cup quarter-final In 2023.
Now, to begin Autumn Nations SeriesThey Return to Soldier Field – view of First win for the men in green Won over the All Blacks in 2016 after 111 years of trying.
andy farrell returned to the coaching hotseat after your summer stay With the British & Irish Lions and Munster star Crawley’s improved provincial form has been immediately rewarded by being handed the keys to the back-line ahead of Leinster fly half rival Prendergast.
Not that the Leinstermen are represented to any great extent, with 12 of the starting XV and 16 of the match-day 23 plying their club trade for the Dublin-based province.
Crawley, fellow Munsterman Tadhg Beirne – who starts in the second-row – and Ulster center Stuart McCloskey are the only starters from other provinces as hooker Dan Sheehan captains Ireland for the second time.
Regular captain Doris has not played any competitive rugby since suffering a shoulder injury during Leinster’s defeat to Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final on May 3, with the surgery ruling the 27-year-old out of the Lions tour. However, he is now back in full training and is deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
In his place, Jack Conan starts at number eight – which will His First appearance since the Lions series against the Wallabies – essentially completing an all-Leinster front row with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier.
A full 11 of the starting 15 went on the Lions tour in the summer, but injuries to Hugo Keenan and Mac Hansen left the back three a slightly unfamiliar image, as James Lowe was joined by Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien, who won his third cap on the wing after scoring four tries in his first two international games against Georgia and Portugal in July’s second-string tour.
Powerful carrier McCloskey has been given the chance to shine in the centers alongside Gary Ringrose as Bundy Aki is also fit enough for the bench after a hip problem and Robbie Henshaw is completely absent after a groin injury. Jameson Gibson-Park starts at number 9 to complete the back-line.
Up front, captain Sheehan is joined by provincial teammates Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, while James Ryan joins Beirne in the engine room and a strong-looking bench includes Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham and Ian Henderson as well as Doris, Prendergast and Aki.
Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy, younger brother of injured lock Joe, could make his international debut off the bench and Farrell was keen to give the 22-year-old his flowers, while also relishing the task of facing the All Blacks.
“It’s really a privilege to be back in Chicago ahead of a big match against New Zealand,” Farrell said. “We have received a fantastic welcome from the local community and we will be cheered on by thousands of Irish supporters, which is something that will motivate the team.
“The clashes with New Zealand over the last few years have been fantastic occasions and we are hoping for more of the same on Saturday.
“The historic nature of this game is something we are embracing and there is great excitement in the squad, especially for Paddy McCarthy who is set to make his international debut this weekend.
“Paddy has had a fantastic start to the season and his selection is testament to his impressive form. We wish him well and will do our best to make it a special weekend for him and his family.”
After the start of the autumn season, Ireland will host Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa at the Aviva Stadium over the next three Saturdays.
Ireland starting XV: 15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Gary Ringrose, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. James Lowe, 10. Jack Crawley, 9. Jameson Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. James Ryan, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan
replacement: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. John Henderson, 20. Kellan Doris, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Sam Prendergast, 23. Bundy Aki