Ireland, likewise, against New Zealand.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell renewed the same starting lineup during the victory over Scotland (36-14) to face New Zealand on Saturday at the Stade de France in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, the Irish Federation announced on Wednesday.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell renewed the same starting lineup during the victory over Scotland (36-14) to face New Zealand on Saturday at the Stade de France in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, the Irish Federation announced on Wednesday.

In the uncertainty following the win over Scotland on October 8 at Stade de France, wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe, who suffered calf and eye injuries respectively, will be in good stead against the All Blacks.

Despite retaining his starting XV, Andy Farrell made two changes to the bench.

Winger Jimmy O’Brien appears among the substitutes. The Leinster player is completely inexperienced at this level. At 26 years old, the former Sevens international has only seven caps.

O’Brien is “incredibly smart, kind and calm” and also expressed his appreciation for Farrell in a press conference, deeming the versatile three-quarter player “incredibly good at getting into multiple positions”.

“With all the problems we had at the beginning of the week, it makes sense to include him,” the technician commented, referring to the injuries to Lowe and Hansen and the long absence of Robbie Henshaw and Keith Earls.

– ‘Big boy thing’ –

Up front, youngster Joe McCarthy (22) in the second row replaces the experienced James Ryan, who suffered a wrist injury against Chardon XV, but will return for a potential semi-final, according to Farrell.

The Irish hope, a giant weighing over 120kg, only started for Leinster in January 2022. He has just four selections for the Clover XV.

“Since the beginning of preparation, (…) the way he has progressed, his fighting abilities, and his desire to participate has been clear to us. (…) we see him growing and now it is time to start him in a ‘big match.’ He will definitely bring something when he comes off the bench,” commented Farrell.

With the start of the knockout matches, the English coach assured the Irish that the competition is turning into “something big now.”

“We have reached the moment of competition where it really matters,” he continued. “We have an experienced group, who have been through a lot and have learned how to manage this kind of week. We have become very good at this kind of thing,” stressed the president of the Irish XV, the leading nation in the world. World Rugby Rankings but is still searching for a first win in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Ireland: Keenan – Hansen, Ringrose, Ake, Lowe – (S) Sexton (Cap), (M) Gibson Park – Van der Vlier, Doris, O’Mahony – Henderson, Byrne – Furlong, Sheehan, Porter

Subs: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Pelham, McCarthy, Coonan, Murray, Crawley, O’Brien

Coach: Andy Farrell (England)

AFP / Paris (AFP) / © 2023 AFP