THE TIME FOR experiments is over after Declan Kidney named a strong side to face the All Blacks in the final Test match in Hamilton on Saturday.
Keith Earls returns to the left wing after a first Test stint at a flexible inside centre alongside Brian O’Driscoll in Auckland.
Paddy Wallace, a man who touched down in New Zealand on Tuesday evening, is the man who will don the number 12 jersey this time out.
Peter O’Mahony, who excelled as a replacement last week, holds off the challenge of Chris Henry for the number 8 slot vacated by the injured Jamie Heaslip.
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The starting line-up is otherwise unchanged from the side that narrowly lost 22-19 against the All Blacks in Christchurch.
Planning without Dan
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has called on Aaron Cruden to replace Dan Carter and has made five other changes.
Richie McCaw moves from his usual spot at openside flanker to take up position at the back of a New Zealand pack that, disconcertingly for the locals, was shifted backwards in the second-half last Saturday.
Kidney said the Irish focus, ever since their 42-10 defeat in the first Test, has been to focus on the game-plan rather than fret too much about the opposition.
His eyebrows did raise, albeit for a couple of seconds, when it was confirmed that Carter would miss out this Saturday.
Kidney admitted that he considered bringing in Ronan O’Gara at out-half and shift Jonathan Sexton back to partner O’Driscoll but feels Wallace is the right man for the job of plugging up a dangerous midfield duo of Sonny Bill Williams and Conrad Smith.
“The temptation to start Ronan is always there as he is a top class player,” said Kidney.
That extra 10%
Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll believes New Zealand’s position is not weakened too much by the introduction of Cruden for Carter. He said:
They managed OK in the World Cup, didn’t they?” he remarked. “Dan Carter is a world class player but Aaron Cruden is handy enough and he has shown it. The bits I’ve seen of the Super Rugby this season he has been pretty impressive.
Kidney added, “New Zealand are more than capable of doing what they did to us at Eden Park again so we’re mindful of that.
“We have to just focus on what we can do and find that extra 10%.”
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll (captain), Paddy Wallace, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Dan Tuohy, Donnacha Ryan, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony.
Replacements: Declan Fitzpatrick, Sean Cronin, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Andrew Trimble.
You can follow all the action of the third Test on Saturday morning (from 8am onwards) by following our live updates from Waikato Stadium.
*You can follow all the latest news, comments and goings on from the Irish camp by following @patmccarry on Twitter and by regularly checking in with TheScore.ie.
He’s been in form for Ulster all season. It astounds me to say it, but he’s an obvious choice with his recent passing skill and fluidity. Hopefully he doesn’t end up pulling any Paddy Wallace moments and his form translates to the international stage though, as it rarely, if ever, has before. Fingers crossed.
Paddy Wallace is our best defensive option without Dorce outside. Not a huge fan normally but the right choice for this game, and shows the type of game Kiss has set them up for it will be a war!!nnCome on lads you can do it!
As someone quoted once “what dirty secret photo has paddy Wallace got of Declan Kidney for such blackmail” however he has improved massively this year for ulster.
Paddy Wallace!!!!!! He has and always will be too slow for international rugby. He will get destroyed. As eamon dunphy would say he’s a journey man at best!!!!
Bit unfair on P Wallace here I think. He has had a great year with Ulster and was arguably our best player on tour when we came to NZ in 2010. (The tour was an unmitigated disaster granted)
Personally would have gone for ROG/Sexton at 10/12 but I certainly wouldn’t worry about SBW as much as people do. He has been largely unimpressive on his last two outings and missed 4 tackles last week.
Disappointing that DK has called on Paddy Wallace. I acknowledge that he’s played well for Ulster but the reality is that he has never shone at international level, and in this respect there’s no point saying “He’s been immense for Ulster this season”. Test level is one or two gears up from H-Cup. He’s made some poor decisions in the green jersey in the past and is pushing on in years too, so it’s hardly a vote for the future of the squad.
I would’ve preferred to see Cave or McFadden at 12 – especially Cave. Why drop Cave for a guy who has not proven himself internationally and did not make the squad in the first place? That is a pointless selection.
Like O’Gara, Wallace is not defensively reliable and to have him facing a guy with the speed and strength of Sonny Bill Williams will likely see huge holes being punched in our defense. I hope I’m proved wrong though, in the interest of a first Irish victory against the ABs.
wallace wasn’t good enough to bring initially but is now good enough to start?! WTF??!! shud have left trimble on, even if he has been disappointing so far, and moved mcfadden into the centre alongside bod with reddan and sexton starting together and earls on the wing. hope the forwards can punch in and recycle, the seconds open holes and get the centres and halves moving with fast wings and europes best full back hopefully to finish. we had the squad last wk to put them away, the ref’s decision at the scrum robbed us but they’re the 50:50 calls that ruin a teams chances. not so sure so many changes (enforced or not!) in the set up and bringing in a cold player is gona work!
Ferg should be at 12, Why do people think we should move BOD to 12, he is a 13 and one of the best in the world. To move him is to weaken him and weaken the whole team. Wallace had a good season but this is a HUGE step up from Ulster. Glad Earls is on the wing because he is a class winger, not a centre I would prefer Reddan but Murray was very good last week so no complaints about him starting again. Good luck to O’Mahoney, I really hope he can front up. Healy wants to eat kiwis, expect another huge game from him. C’mon Ireland its “Manic Aggression” time again
Earls on the wing is a disaster. He’s not international standard. Trimble is an out and out winger who gives solidity to defence and good attacking option. Poor selection again by Kidney.
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Paddy Wallace? Really?
Don’t know how others feel about him but I don’t think he’s of international standard.
as long as he passes instead of going inside in the 79th this time..
He’s been in form for Ulster all season. It astounds me to say it, but he’s an obvious choice with his recent passing skill and fluidity. Hopefully he doesn’t end up pulling any Paddy Wallace moments and his form translates to the international stage though, as it rarely, if ever, has before. Fingers crossed.
He is the in form 12 in the country. My only concern is if he is up to match pace. Also interfered to see how O’Mahony cops at 8.
Paddy Wallace is our best defensive option without Dorce outside. Not a huge fan normally but the right choice for this game, and shows the type of game Kiss has set them up for it will be a war!!nnCome on lads you can do it!
Come on Ireland!!!!
Paddy Bloody Wallace….. FFS. I think I’d sooner have Mick Wallace playing at 12 if only he had all his Dail issues sorted !!
Why no Darren Cave? After taking him down you would think they’d give a proper run out at 13.
Paddy Wallace – 5’11, 80kg v Sonny Bill 6’4, 108kg… Hmmm wonder where are the All Blacks gonna find holes in the defence!!
As someone quoted once “what dirty secret photo has paddy Wallace got of Declan Kidney for such blackmail” however he has improved massively this year for ulster.
It’s part of the good Friday agreement
All dead right paddy waste of time.how many chances has he got??????????
Paddy Wallace!!!!!! He has and always will be too slow for international rugby. He will get destroyed. As eamon dunphy would say he’s a journey man at best!!!!
Bit unfair on P Wallace here I think. He has had a great year with Ulster and was arguably our best player on tour when we came to NZ in 2010. (The tour was an unmitigated disaster granted)
Personally would have gone for ROG/Sexton at 10/12 but I certainly wouldn’t worry about SBW as much as people do. He has been largely unimpressive on his last two outings and missed 4 tackles last week.
Harsh call on Trimble I reckon by the way.
What about Darren cave?
McFadden at 12 bod 13 Wallace can go jump
Any merit in O’Driscoll at 12 and Cave at 13? Wallace too small for the job. Great year with Ulster though.
Disappointing that DK has called on Paddy Wallace. I acknowledge that he’s played well for Ulster but the reality is that he has never shone at international level, and in this respect there’s no point saying “He’s been immense for Ulster this season”. Test level is one or two gears up from H-Cup. He’s made some poor decisions in the green jersey in the past and is pushing on in years too, so it’s hardly a vote for the future of the squad.
I would’ve preferred to see Cave or McFadden at 12 – especially Cave. Why drop Cave for a guy who has not proven himself internationally and did not make the squad in the first place? That is a pointless selection.
Like O’Gara, Wallace is not defensively reliable and to have him facing a guy with the speed and strength of Sonny Bill Williams will likely see huge holes being punched in our defense. I hope I’m proved wrong though, in the interest of a first Irish victory against the ABs.
wallace wasn’t good enough to bring initially but is now good enough to start?! WTF??!! shud have left trimble on, even if he has been disappointing so far, and moved mcfadden into the centre alongside bod with reddan and sexton starting together and earls on the wing. hope the forwards can punch in and recycle, the seconds open holes and get the centres and halves moving with fast wings and europes best full back hopefully to finish. we had the squad last wk to put them away, the ref’s decision at the scrum robbed us but they’re the 50:50 calls that ruin a teams chances. not so sure so many changes (enforced or not!) in the set up and bringing in a cold player is gona work!
Ferg should be at 12, Why do people think we should move BOD to 12, he is a 13 and one of the best in the world. To move him is to weaken him and weaken the whole team. Wallace had a good season but this is a HUGE step up from Ulster. Glad Earls is on the wing because he is a class winger, not a centre I would prefer Reddan but Murray was very good last week so no complaints about him starting again. Good luck to O’Mahoney, I really hope he can front up. Healy wants to eat kiwis, expect another huge game from him. C’mon Ireland its “Manic Aggression” time again
Earls on the wing is a disaster. He’s not international standard. Trimble is an out and out winger who gives solidity to defence and good attacking option. Poor selection again by Kidney.