Ireland get triple boost for All Blacks clash

Hugo Keenan is among a trio of experienced backs who have been recalled to Ireland’s starting lineup for Friday night’s blockbuster Test against New Zealand.

Keenan, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, who missed the epic Ireland victory over South Africa to tie a July series, all start for Ireland in the match against the All Blacks.

All three were key members of Ireland’s World Cup team last year whose dreams of winning the trophy were dashed by the All Blacks in a quarter-final thriller.

Keenan returns after the dynamic fullback took a sabbatical to play for Ireland’s sevens team at the Paris Olympics.

Hansen comes back after missing the Six Nations — which saw Ireland retain their title though miss out on repeat Grand Slams — through injury.

His Connacht teammate Aki, whose performances last year earned him a world player of the year nomination, missed the second Test against the Springboks due to a shoulder issue.

Another Connacht man, Finaly Bealham, also starts, the Australia-born prop coming in for the injured Tadhg Furlong.

Jack Crowley has been given the nod by head coach Andy Farrell at flyhalf despite Ciaran Frawley being the match-winner in South Africa with a last gasp drop-goal in the 25-24 victory which secured a 1-1 drawn series.

Caelan Doris skippers the side, although regular captain Peter O’Mahony is on the bench and can provide an experienced helping hand to the 26-year-old should it be needed.

The Irish and All Blacks will be meeting for the fifth time in just over two years with them tied at 2-2, the Irish having recorded a historic 2-1 series victory in New Zealand in July 2022.

Ireland — 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne; 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy; 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne.