Ireland have recalled their leading players for Saturday’s crucial Nations Championship meeting with the All Blacks at Eden Park. Head coach Andy Farrell has made nine changes to the side that defeated Japan 36-20 last week, returning the team to full strength with a number of 2025 British and Irish Lions reinstated to the starting XV.
Rob Baloucoune returns on the right wing after missing the victories over Japan and Australia due to a hamstring injury. Centre Garry Ringrose, fly-half Sam Prendergast, full-back Hugo Keenan, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, back-row Josh van der Flier, lock Joe McCarthy, hooker and captain Dan Sheehan, and prop Tadhg Furlong also return to the starting lineup after sitting out last week. Six players remain from the win against Japan, while 13 are retained from the team that beat Australia 33-21.
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie has strengthened the All Blacks bench with wing Caleb Clarke and back-row Peter Lakai, both of whom started against France, named among the replacements. “We know how important our bench will be against a team as tenacious as Ireland, so have selected players who we know are capable of making an impact and influencing the course of the game,” Rennie said.
Wings Fehi Fineanganofo and Leroy Carter are unavailable for the All Blacks with shoulder injuries, accelerating Josh Moorby’s promotion to the starting side. Tyrel Lomax is again preferred at tighthead prop over Fletcher Newell. Tupou Vaa’i has been moved from lock to blindside flanker in the All Blacks’ starting XV as Rennie makes four changes to the side that beat Italy. Moorby, who debuted last week against Italy, earns a first start, while Quinn Tupaea returns at centre and Josh Lord and Patrick Tuipulotu partner in the second row. Xavier Numia and Anton Segner, both recent test debutants, are named on the bench.
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Josh Loma, 3 Tyrel Loma, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan the Great.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Caleb Clarke.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Tom O’Toole.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.
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Wales make six changes for clash against South Africa
Louis Rees-Zammit returns for Wales
Steve Tandy has refreshed his Wales squad for Saturday’s Nations Championship match against South Africa in Durban. The head coach has made six changes from the team beaten 35-21 by Argentina last weekend, bringing in Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Dan Edwards, Ben Thomas, Max Llewellyn and Louis Rees-Zammit.
Captain Dewi Lake is fit to start after a midweek groin injury scare, but Ben Carter misses out with an ankle problem sustained in training on Wednesday. Tandy has split the established centre pairing of Eddie James and Joe Hawkins, with Thomas and Llewellyn incoming.
“I think it’s a bit of freshness in the centres,” said the Wales head coach. “I thought the combination with Joe and Eddie has been excellent for us but we feel Max and Ben deserve an opportunity. Max I thought did really well for us in the autumn, unfortunately he got injured, and then Ben has responded really well since being left out from the England game. It’s exciting for us. Moving things around, freshening up, there’s lots of travel. And obviously it’s the back end of the season so it’s a good opportunity for us to try a few different combinations.”
Williams made his return from a serious foot injury against the Barbarians last month, and Tandy added: “It’s brilliant for Teddy, how hard he’s worked, and obviously it was a horrific injury. The way he’s come back, the way he’s trained and playing against the Barbarians, I thought he had a real impact when he came off the bench on the weekend. It’s thoroughly well deserved.”
The loss to Argentina followed a morale-boosting win against Fiji, but facing the Springboks in Durban is a formidable challenge.
Tandy views it as an opportunity for his squad, stating: “It’s definitely going to be a physical encounter, you see the set-piece, every breakdown. It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us to pitch up against South Africa and test ourselves against the best team in the world in their own home. It’s going to be exciting for us but we know what they bring. I’ve loved the year, it’s been awesome for me, I’ve loved getting to know the boys. I think we’re developing as a team and finishing off our season with a game against the world champions is outstanding for us and another opportunity to experience different things.”
With Carter unavailable, Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas joins the matchday squad on the bench as injury cover. “It’s a baptism of fire for Freddie,” Tandy added. “He was unlucky not to be in the 33, he came in, trained well and it’s a great opportunity for him.”
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Teddy Williams, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 James Botham, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Joe Hawkins.
2026 Nations Championship summer fixtures – all kick-off times BST
July 4
- New Zealand 34-32 France
- Japan 27-10 Italy
- Australia 31-33 Ireland
- Fiji 24-39 Wales
- South Africa 45-21 England
- Argentina 38-47 Scotland
July 11
July 18
- New Zealand vs Ireland (8.10am)
- Japan vs France (9.40am)
- Australia vs Italy (11.10am)
- Fiji vs Scotland (2.10pm)
- South Africa vs Wales (4.40pm)
- Argentina vs England (8.10pm)