All Blacks v Ireland: What you need to know for decisive third test at Wellington

16/07/2022

All Blacks v Ireland

When: Saturday, July 16, 7:05pm

Where: Sky Stadium, Wellington

Series results:

First test - All Blacks beat Ireland 42-19 at Eden Park, Auckland

Second test - Ireland beat All Blacks 23-12 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Riding high after an historic first- win over the All Blacks in New Zealand, Ireland are ready to unleash "chaos" in Wellington on Saturday to upset the hosts again and claim a seismic series victory.

Spanked in the Eden Park opener, Andy Farrell's men rebounded magnificently against the shorthanded hosts in Dunedin to set up a mouth-watering third test decider that brings the tension of a World Cup knockout a year early for fans.

Tenacious Ireland have relished their role as New Zealand disruptors, winning four of the last seven matches they have played against the three-times world champions.

James Lowe breaks a tackle during the second test. Photo credit: Getty Images

They will need to lift again at Wellington Regional Stadium, where a chastened All Blacks team are likely to come out breathing fire.

Farrell believes his team have it in them to improve and create more history in a land where the hosts have not suffered back-to-back defeats since 1998.

Farrell has entrusted the same players with that task, making only one injury-enforced change to his starting 15, promoting Bundee Aki to replace inside centre Garry Ringrose.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster, meanwhile, has shaken up his side and will look to seasoned leaders to stave off the Irish threat and potentially save his job.

Lock Sam Whitelock, prop Nepo Laulala and inside centre David Havili return to add experience to the starting lineup, while rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is a wildcard on the bench, the Blues centre primed for a test debut.

All Blacks v Ireland: What you need to know for decisive third test at Wellington

With the All Blacks beaten in three of their last four matches, including defeat to the Irish in Dublin last November, another loss would trigger panic stations in New Zealand and put Foster's job on very thin ice.

Home fans will hope that means more discipline from the All Blacks, who drew two yellow cards and had prop Angus Ta'avao dismissed in little more than half an hour at Dunedin.

Fans and media pundits have raged over the officiating in the series, criticising the strict application of high contact rules and the regular disruptions brought by the referees consulting with TV match officials.

Team line-ups:

All Blacks: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Scott Barrett, 7-Sam Cane (c), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Sevu Reece, 12-David Havili, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Akira Ioane, 20-Dalton Papalii, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Ireland: 1-Andrew Porter, 2-Dan Sheehan, 3-Tadhg Furlong, 4-Tadhg Beirne, 5-James Ryan, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Josh van der Flier, 8-Caelan Doris, 9-Jamison Gibson-Park, 10-Johnny Sexton, 11-James Lowe, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 13-Bundee Aki, 14-Mack Hansen, 15-Hugo Keenan

Reserves: 16-Rob Herring, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Finlay Bealham, 19-Kieran Tredwell, 20-Jack Conan, 21-Conor Murray, 22-Joey Carberry, 23-Keith Earls