Farrell brings in nine new faces for All Blacks clash, Baloucoune starts while Jansen makes bench

Sean Jansen will be on the bench for Ireland after a great display in his debut outing for Ireland. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Andy Farrell has rung the changes and brought back the A-listers for Saturday’s crunch Nations Championship Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

In total, Farrell has brought in nine new faces, most of whom beat the Wallabies 33-31 in the opening game on tour in Sydney earlier this month, but they have regained the services of Robert Baloucoune, the Ulster flyer who scored three tries in four matches during the Six Nations.

Farrell has also rewarded form, with New Zealand-born and raised loose-forward Sean Jansen selected on the bench after claiming player of the match honours on debut against Japan last weekend.

With Tadhg Beirne selected at blindside flanker, Farrell opted against having second-row cover on the bench and has instead selected the 27-year-old Jansen as well as fellow loose-forward option Nick Timoney.

Replacement loose-head prop Jeremy Loughman also returns via the bench after his concussion against the Wallabies.

Farrell’s side is otherwise predictable and strong, with Ireland going all out to not just finish their season on a high, but keep their unbeaten streak alive in the Nations Championship and, most importantly, to end the All Blacks’ 31-year, 51-Test winning run at the Garden of Eden in Auckland.

Sam Prendergast returns at out-half and partners the excellent Jamison Gibson-Park in the halves. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Unusually mild conditions in Auckland have kept the spirits high all week.

It’s allowed for a perfect build-up for both sides, including Ireland who have had all eyes on this fixture from the moment they arrived down under almost three weeks ago.

Dan Sheehan captains the side at hooker and is joined in the front-row by Tom O’Toole and Tadhg Furlong, while Joe McCarthy and James Ryan resume their second-row combination to round out the tight-five.

Berine offers Ireland plenty at blindside flanker, with the British and Irish Lions star edging out Cian Prendergast for a spot on the side of the scrum. He’s joined by Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan in the back-row.

Sam Prendergast returns at out-half and partners the excellent Jamison Gibson-Park in the halves.

Farrell thought about including Robbie Henshaw after his impressive outing last week but has once again rolled Stuart McCloskey out alongside Garry Ringrose in the midfield.

Baloucoune gives Ireland plenty of pace out wide and he’s joined in a lively and threatening back three trio alongside Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O’Brien, who starts for the third time on this tour.

Former Chiefs star Bundee Aki will come off the bench and once again offer Ireland plenty of potency in the second half.

Ireland came from behind to beat the All Blacks 2-1 on New Zealand soil in 2022, but their one loss on tour was a 41-19 defeat at Eden Park. 

Since then, the All Blacks have won three straight Tests, including the 2023 World Cup quarter-final in Paris, winning 28-24. 

Ireland team v All Blacks

15 H Keenan, 14 R Baloucoune, 13 G Ringrose, 12 S McCloskey, 11 J O'Brien, 10 S Prendergast, 9 J Gibson-Park; 1 T O'Toole, 2 D Sheehan (c), 3 T Furlong, 4 J McCarthy, 5 J Ryan, 6 T Beirne, 7 J van der Flier, 8 J Conan.

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.