Fitzpatrick set to face All Blacks

Uncapped Ulster tighthead Declan Fitzpatrick is set for a baptism of fire against the All Blacks with Mike Ross being confirmed as a major doubt for the first test at Eden Park on Saturday.

Leinster prop Ross, a cornerstone of the Irish pack for the past two seasons, has been struggling with a hamstring problem since the RaboDirect Pro12 final loss to the Ospreys 10 days ago.

The Cork native was forced from the field in the 14th minute of that game and has been struggling with the injury ever since.

Ireland team manager Michael Kearney confirmed that Ross had a “hamstring tear” and had not taken a full part in training as of yet.

Should Ross fail to recover, then Worcester-born Fitzpatrick will be entrusted with locking out the Irish scrum against one of most fearsome scrummaging packs in world rugby, containing seasoned loosehead Tony Woodcock as well as the twin threat of the Franks brothers, Owen and Ben.

The Irish pack may also have to face the prospect of packing down against 140kg Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna at some stage in the series.

Cian Healy is making good progress from his dead leg while Sean O’Brien is recovering well after undergoing keyhole surgery on his right knee — the same procedure that Brian O’Driscoll underwent eight days before the Heineken Cup final.

O’Brien took a limited part in the team’s preparations at the Onewa Domain training base in Auckland’s North Shore yesterday, but is expected to be fit to face New Zealand on Saturday.