- All Blacks name inexperienced back unit to attack wide
- Ireland coach opts for experience for quarter-final
Green will be New Zealand’s colour on Saturday. They go into their quarter-final against an Ireland team who have won two of the past three Tests between the sides with a recently minted back division while their opponents will be armed with 12 of the starting lineup from the victory against the All Blacks in Dublin last November.
Given that the scrum-half Conor Murray and the centre Robbie Henshaw missed that match because of injury and Iain Henderson has established himself in the second row at Devin Toner’s expense, Ireland are virtually at full strength. Bundee Aki might have been picked ahead of Garry Ringrose in the midfield but for his suspension for a high tackle against Samoa but their head coach, Joe Schmidt, has gone for experience and players who know what success tastes like.
Written by Paul Rees in Tokyo
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/17/rubgy-world-cup-new-zealand-ireland-teams under the title “New Zealand go green for Ireland quarter-final while Schmidt plays it safe”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
