Ireland Squad Announced to face the All Blacks

6th November 2024 By The Editor

Jack Crowley this summer against South Africa in Durban @INPHO

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Friday’s opening Autumn Nations Series clash against New Zealand at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 8.10pm).

Four Munster players have been selected as part of the match day 23 including Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne in the starting fifteen, and Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray among the replacements.

Caelan Doris captains Ireland from the back row having previously led the side in the Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy last February and in the Second Test defeat of South Africa in July.Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe start in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield, while Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the number nine jersey alongside Jack Crowley at out-half.

In the pack, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan starting in the engine room.

Tadhg Beirne is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.

Farrell has experience to call upon from the replacements bench with Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony providing the forward reinforcements, while Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne are the backline options.

Looking ahead to the game, Farrell said: “I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal. Since assembling at the IRFU High Performance Centre last week, the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team.

Ireland (v New Zealand):

Player/Club/Province/Caps

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(21)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(60)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(57)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(33)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(16)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(35)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(66)
2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(33)
3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(42)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(12)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(64)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(52)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(64)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(43)(captain)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(40)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(131)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(13)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(81)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(107)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(118)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(6)
23. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(2).