The scene has been set for what many see as the rugby planet's most interesting modern international rivalry - certainly the northern/southern hemisphere's biggest.
Andy Farrell has gone for the grizzled look, seven thirty-somethings and only two players under twenty-six as he takes on the All Blacks under Friday night lights.
"But hopefully the way that we've performed or improved since Soldier Field , hopefully the respect is a little bit higher from their side for us now.""We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, I mean everyone knows that's the truth so we want to constantly be up there competing with the best - if that's not motivation within itself...
Be that as it may, six of the backs that started the RWC 2023 quarter-final against New Zealand in Stade de France last October reprise their roles tomorrow night, the now-retired Sexton that odd one out.“There’s a bit of credit there, isn’t there, with Jack. Like a few players, not just at Munster but at other provinces where I’m sure form is something they’d like to be pushing a bit further, etc.
Furlong's absence perked up New Zealand coach Scott Robertson's attention when he heard about it at his own press conference as he agreed the loss of New Ross RFC's finest would be a blow to any side while Farrell was willing to talk up stand-in Finlay Bealham who, to be fair, has played really well as Furlong's understudy under this coach.
"But it's something that we've spoken about a lot and been talking a lot about and worked unbelievably hard over the last 12 days to have as good a set-piece as you possibly can.
New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Union Team Andy Farrell Caelan Doris Tadhg Furlong Peter O'mahony Jamison Gibson-Park James Ryan Finlay Bealham Ronan Kelleher Tadhg Beirne
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