Two Uncapped Players Included In The All Blacks Team To Face Ireland In Dunedin

July 07, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

The All Blacks team has been named to play Ireland at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday, July 9th (Kick-off 7.05 PM NZT, 8.05 AM BST) has been named.

With Sam Whitelock and Tupou Vaa’i ruled out, Scott Barrett moves back to lock alongside Brodie Retallick.

Dalton Papalii will wear the number six jersey alongside captain Sam Cane at seven and Ardie Savea at the back of the scrum.

“The backline remains unchanged with a plan to build on existing combinations from the previous week,” Head coach Ian Foster said.

Debutants Aidan Ross and Folau Fakatava have the chance for a first Test cap from the bench.

The All Blacks have won 40 out of 46 Test matches in Dunedin, with five losses, and one draw.

Foster praised the dynamic attributes of Papalii, who replaces veteran lock Sam Whitelock and will win his 14th All Blacks cap on the blindside.

"Dalton's a tough rugby player. He's physical in the tackle and he's quick," said Ian Foster.

"Remember, it's a hard ground under a roof so expect the game to be fast."

Outside back Will Jordan returns to the bench after missing the first Test with Covid with lock Patrick Tuipulotu included after being recalled to the squad last week, fresh from a stint in Japan.

Tonga-born Fakatava, who is the back-up to starting scrum-half Aaron Smith at the Otago Highlanders, became eligible for the All Blacks earlier this year.

Foster said he was eager to see how the bench newcomers would perform but was reluctant to change his starting side, given their efforts in Auckland off the back of a build-up disrupted by seven Covid cases in the All Blacks camp.

"We felt that last week, we got some really good progress on some things that we want to achieve." said Foster.

"The best way to cement some of that is to reward the effort and use the experience they had of playing against the Irish to try and grow.

"It felt like making too many changes right now might take us back a cog."