Ireland has made nine changes to their starting lineup for their final game of the tour and season against New Zealand. The changes are largely due to the team's performances in the previous two games, with Jimmy O'Brien impressing on the right wing and Tadhg Beirne being picked at blindside. Sean Jansen is named on the bench with Cian Prendergast missing out altogether. The All Blacks will be much changed too, with a new head coach, Dave Rennie, and a new outhalf, Ruben Love.
Ireland has made nine changes to their starting lineup for their final game of the tour and season against New Zealand. Robert Baloucoune will make a delayed first appearance of the tour after recovering from a tight hamstring that forced his late withdrawal against the Wallabies.
He was not risked in last Saturday's 36-20 victory against Japan. Jimmy O'Brien was the beneficiary of Baloucoune's absence and, having impressed in both games on the right wing, is retained on the left ahead of Jamie Osborne. Osborne had started on the left wing against Australia and at fullback against Japan. Tadhg Beirne is picked at blindside, having been on the bench against Australia and captained the side from the second row in the win over Japan.
Sean Jansen is named on the bench with Cian Prendergast missing out altogether. Jansen, the New Zealand-born Connacht number eight, has forced his way into the matchday squad on the back of his big carrying, big tackling, try-scoring, man-of-the-match debut against Japan. His inclusion is the only change from the bench which made a significant impact in Sydney.
Farrell has also recalled Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier, all of whom had been rested against Japan with an eye on this game, perhaps the ultimate test in Test rugby given New Zealand's 52-match unbeaten run in Eden Park dating back 32 years. The All Blacks will be much changed too, not least in having a new head coach, Dave Rennie, for whom this will be just a third game in charge, and a new outhalf in the exciting Ruben Love, orchestrator-in-chief of the Hurricanes charge to the Super Rugby title, for whom this will be a third Test start at outhalf. Farrell already sees Rennie's imprint.
Please follow us on Google to support usIreland New Zealand Rugby Tour Season Lineup Changes Jimmy O'brien Tadhg Beirne Sean Jansen Cian Prendergast Dave Rennie Ruben Love
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