Centre Ryan Crotty will replace the injured Sonny Bill Williams when the All Blacks face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Coach Steve Hansen has made one injury-enforced change to his starting XV for what many are calling the Test of the year. Crotty’s promotion to the No 12 position sees Anton Lienert-Brown joining the bench.
Blindside flanker Liam Squire missed training on Tuesday due to illness, but has been named in the starting team. Hansen believes that Squire will be fit enough to front the Irish.
Aaron Smith will break Justin Marshall’s record for the most Test appearances by an All Blacks scrumhalf (82) when he takes to the field on Saturday.
All Blacks – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images
