I suppose Ireland team for Saturday was predictable, He was always going to select Kearney ahead of Larmour and O Mahoney ahead of Beirne Ringrose returns also Can’t wait for Saturday morning
JakeGylleenhaal (17-10-19), Toolbox (18-10-19), westcorklad (17-10-19)
Rob Kearney and Peter O'Mahony have been restored to the Ireland team for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.
Garry Ringrose will partner Rob Henshaw in the centre for the first time in 16 months as head coach Joe Schmidt makes three changes from the win over Samoa.
Champions New Zealand have trusted Jack Goodhue and Anton Leinert-Brown to solve their midfield conundrum.
Brodie Retallick is named at lock despite little game time in Japan.
Beauden Barrett will once again operate at full-back with Richie Mo'unga at fly-half while Cody Taylor is preferred to Dane Coles at hooker.
Experienced duo Ryan Crotty and Ben Smith are not included in Steve Hansen's matchday 23 with Sonny Bill Williams only among the replacements.
Goodhue and scrum-half Aaron Smith are the only starting backs who played in their defeat by Ireland in Dublin last year, which is also the last time they failed to score a try.
Twelve players who began Ireland's victory last November keep their place with Henshaw, Murray and Iain Henderson replacing Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion and Devin Toner.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton will become Ireland's most-capped starting half-back duo, overtaking Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara by lining up together for the 56th time.
The All Blacks are undefeated in their last 17 World Cup fixtures, last tasting defeat against France in the 2007 quarter-finals.
Ireland matchday squad to play New Zealand:
Ireland: Kearney, Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, McGrath, Carbery, Larmour.
Last edited by westcorklad; 17-10-19 at 10:08.
The Truth is out there.
Ryankelvin (17-10-19), Toolbox (18-10-19)
A lot of guys I’m meeting today claim Henshaw has never really fulfilled his potential as an O Driscoll replacement. He has had a lot of injuries but he will be crucial on Saturday if we are to stand any chance. I’m sure he feels some pressure. I consider him a fine player and would really love to see him have the performance of his life
Ryankelvin (17-10-19)
JakeGylleenhaal (18-10-19)
Can the Northern Hemisphere group beat the Southern Hemisphere group?
England 08:15 Australia
New Zealand 11:15 Ireland
For both England and Ireland, this is not going to be easy, especially for Ireland, who have to try and beat the World Champions twice in a row.
Only 4 countries have won the World Cup, England being the only Northern Hemisphere to win.
New Zealand - 3 wins - 1987, 2011, 2015
Australia - 2 wins - 1991, 1999
South Africa - 2 wins - 1995, 2007
England - 1 win - 2003
Ryankelvin (18-10-19)
Floki (18-10-19)
It is hard to replace the Alpha, and when the Alpha steps down, he is always still part of the pack.
In my case, I am not going anywhere for a while
As for roasted goat, wonder if it tastes like sheep.
However, I do like magic buds, they remove all of my troubles