The coach of the Irish Rugby team Andy Farrell has chosen to start three returnees, wingers Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen and center Bundee Aki, during the test match against New Zealand, Friday November 8, at Dublin (9:10 p.m.).
Jack Crowley at the opening
The three players were key players at last year's World Cup, where the Clover XV beat future winners South Africa in the group stage, before losing to the New Zealanders in the quarters ( 28-24). For this reunion with the All Blacks, Keenan returns after a break in rugby sevens to participate in the Paris Olympic Games. Injured, Hansen missed the Six Nations tournament, won for the second year in a row by the Irish.
His Connacht teammate Aki missed the second Test against South Africa last July due to a shoulder problem. Ireland beat the Springboks 25-24 in this match after a first test lost 27-20. Jack Crowley will start at opener while he was in the balance with Ciarán Frawley, author of the victorious drop at the last second against South Africa during the second test.
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The third row Caelan Doris, 26, will be captain in place of the usual Peter O'Mahony (107 caps), uncertain due to a hamstring injury and finally on the bench. In addition to New Zealand, Ireland welcomes Argentina, Fiji and Australia in November in Dublin.
The composition of the Ireland team to face New Zealand
The XV of Clover: 15. Hugo Keenan – 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. James Lowe – 10. Jack Crowley (o), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (m) – 8. Caelan Doris (cap) , 7. Josh van der Flier, 6. Tadhg Beirne – 5. James Ryan, 4. Joe McCarthy – 3. Finlay Bealham, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 1. Andrew Porter
Remplaçants : 16. Rob Herring, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Ciarán Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne
Coach: Andy Farrell (ENG)
