Rob Kearney slow to change Ireland's winning team for All Blacks clash

The Virgin Media pundit has backed the same starting line-up which beat South Africa in Durban last time out.

Virgin Media Television rugby pundit Rob Kearney pictured ahead of the Autumn Nations Series. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Rob Kearney has made Ireland favourites to exact revenge on the All Blacks for last November’s World Cup quarter-final defeat and backed the same starting line-up which beat South Africa in Durban last time out to get the job done at Aviva Stadium this Friday night.

Though it seems first-choice tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong will not, through injury, be able to retain his place in the XV due to be named at 2pm on Thursday by head coach Andy Farrell, fit-again backs Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan could all feature in the matchday 23.