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Barrett and Mo’unga Start for All Blacks

The All Blacks have made a host of changes for their match against the Springboks this weekend and fans will be delighted by the possibility of seeing two world-class playmakers line-up together

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(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have rotated their squad ahead of this Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks at the Westpac Stadium.

Head coach Steve Hansen has brought back in many of their Crusaders contingent including fly-half Richie Mo’unga, meaning that Beauden Barrett moves to fullback. With fans particularly excited to see the two playmakers start in the same team.

There is also a return to the back-line for star centre Sonny Bill Williams who has recovered from a hamstring injury and gain some much-needed game-time ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Experience runs through the entire team with Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks replacing last weekend’s front-row trio of Ofa Tuungafasi, Dane Coles and Angus Ta’avao, all of whom are named among the replacements.

Slotting in behind them are Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, with Shannon Frizell and Matt Todd on the flanks and Kieran Read captaining the side from No 8.

TJ Perenara opens alongside Mo’unga in the half-backs, with Williams at inside-centre and Jack Goodhue in the 13 channel.

Rieko Ioane begins on the left-wing, with Ben Smith shifting to the right to accommodate Barrett at full-back.

As well as the star front-rowers on the bench there are also the likes of Aaron Smith and Anton Lienert-Brown to call upon.

Speaking ahead of the game Hansen admitted that he is excited to see how this team works out and is hoping to build on last weekend’s 20-16 win over Argentina.

“The selectors are once again very excited with the team we’ve selected and are very much looking forward to seeing them play. The key for us this week has been to continue building on the very good groundwork we’ve put in over the last couple of weeks. Whilst we were a little rusty last week, we’re looking forward to seeing improvements in all areas of our game this week,” he said.

The Springboks are in fine form and ran out 35-17 winners against Australia last week, having rested many of their star names and Hansen knows that they will provide a tough challenge.

“It’s always an exciting occasion when we play the Springboks. We have a lot of respect for them and love playing them, as they bring many challenges to the contest. One of those challenge this week will be to not only match the physicality of the Boks, but to impose our own physicality on the game, and execute our game and our skillsets at a higher level,” he added.

He closed-up by encouraging fans to get behind the team in what is their opening home fixture this year.

“We love playing in Wellington and this is the first of only three home Tests for the team this year before the Rugby World Cup, so we’re looking forward to seeing a full house in full voice at Westpac Stadium on Saturday,” he finished.

The game on Saturday will provide a dress-rehearsal for when the two sides meet during the Rugby World Cup later this year. While it could also decide the winner of this year’s shortened Rugby Championship.

Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.

1. Joe Moody (37)

2. Codie Taylor (41)

3. Owen Franks (106)

4. Brodie Retallick (76)

5. Samuel Whitelock (108)

6. Shannon Frizell (4)

7. Matt Todd (17)

8. Kieran Read – captain (118)

9. TJ Perenara (55)

10. Richie Mo’unga (9)

11. Rieko Ioane (24)

12. Sonny Bill Williams (51)

13. Jack Goodhue (7)

14. Ben Smith (77)

15. Beauden Barrett (74)

16. Dane Coles (61)

17. Ofa Tuungafasi (27)

18. Angus Ta’avao (4)

19. Vaea Fifita (10)

20. Dalton Papalii (2)

21. Aaron Smith (83)

22. Anton Lienert-Brown (34)

23. George Bridge (1)


6 Nations

IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship

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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.

The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.

Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:

“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.

“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.

“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.

“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”

The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.

IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:

Saturday, 16th November:

Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)

Friday, 22nd November:

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)

Friday, 29th November:

Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)

Friday, 20th December:

Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)

Saturday, 21st December:

Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)

Weekend of 28/29 December:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 9/10 May:

Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 16/17 May:

Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Team For Final Tour Clash Against The Cheetahs Named

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The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.

Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.

Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart

In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.

Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.

Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.

The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”

Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.

Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)

15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)

Replacements:

16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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6 Nations

Emerging Ireland Squad Update As Three Players Return To Provincial Action

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Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.

The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.

The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+

Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+

Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.



Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography


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