‘A’ International Match: Ireland ‘A’ v All Blacks XV

Irish Rugby’s new international season gets underway at the RDS where Ireland ‘A’ make a welcome return to the rugby calendar, hosting the All Blacks XV in their first ever tour match.

2022 ‘A’ INTERNATIONAL MATCH: Friday, November 4

IRELAND ‘A’ v ALL BLACKS XV, RDS Arena, 7.45pm (live Virgin Media Two/Virgin Media Player)

Viewers in Northern Ireland can watch the game on the Virgin Media Player – click here

Team News: The selected Ireland ‘A’ team features 11 players who played against the Māori All Blacks during the summer tour of New Zealand – Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Ciaran Frawley, Dave Heffernan, James Hume, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Lowry, Joe McCarthy, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast and Nick Timoney.

20-year-old centre Jamie Osborne is one of four members of the Emerging Ireland squad in the starting XV, alongside forwards Prendergast and McCarthy and winger Calvin Nash.

Taking the place of Jimmy O’Brien, Limerick man Nash is a late inclusion in the side following Robbie Henshaw’s injury-enforced withdrawal from the senior team. O’Brien has been added to the Ireland bench for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks.

Diarmuid Barron, Jack Crowley, Max Deegan and Shane Daly, who were also on the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa, are included on the replacements bench. Daly has taken Nash’s spot as cover for the outside backs.

Munster scrum half Casey will captain the ‘A’ team which features Jacob Stockdale, who last lined out for Ireland against Japan in July 2021, while among the replacements is Martin Moore whose last game for Ireland was against Scotland back in March 2015.

Speaking ahead of the game, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said: “We’ve got plenty of information about the opposition as individuals. The lads will be well across that. They sure know the experience that the All Blacks XV have got in their side.

“The amount of caps that they’ve got with the captain (42-times capped lock Patrick Tuipulotu) there, and with (Damian) McKenzie and (TJ) Perenara, etc. We know the experience that they’ve got and what they’re going to show.

“We also know that our lads watch plenty of Super Rugby, so that these lads they’re playing against on Friday night are the next cabs off the rank as far as the All Blacks side is concerned.

“Their depth is pretty deep as well, so we know that they are going to be very strong and a big step up from the Māori game.

“At the same time, our lads came in last Sunday and they’ve had a couple of training sessions. We expect them to be up to speed, so most of the concentration has been on ourselves in that regard.”

He added: “Craig was an obvious choice for us as captain. We approached the subject straight away and it was unanimous that it was going to be Craig. Why? Because it’s him just being himself. He’s a natural leader.

“Just the way that he handles himself on a daily basis in and around everyone. He’s the ultimate professional, he prepares really well.

“He’s been in and around this (Ireland) environment for some time now so the responsibility is a nice step in his journey as well.”

Meanwhile, for tonight’s encounter in Ballsbridge, the inaugural All Blacks XV is captained by Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu, one of eight All Blacks in the squad.

The returning Damian McKenzie and vice-captain TJ Perenara also provide plenty of Test experience at half-back, with the latter fresh from winning New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship with the Wellington Lions.

There are a combined 14 players included from the Chiefs and the Super Rugby Pacific title-winning Crusaders. Amongst them are front rowers Aidan Ross, who made his Test debut against Ireland in July, and Brodie McAlister.

Selected at inside centre, former rugby league player Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was also involved in the All Blacks’ series defeat to Ireland, winning his first cap during the third Test in Wellington.

The All Blacks XV are New Zealand Rugby’s next senior national representative team after the All Blacks. As part of this European tour, they will also play the Barbarians in London on Sunday week.

Seven members of the All Blacks XV squad played for the Māori All Blacks against Ireland during the summer. Chiefs winger Shaun Stevenson was prominent during that midweek series, scoring two tries.

Looking forward to the Dublin duel, All Blacks XV head coach Leon MacDonald said: “We are anticipating a huge challenge from Ireland ‘A’. They are a top tier, physical team with strong attack and defence, as we saw earlier this year against the Māori All Blacks.

“With a short lead in to this first match, we’ve balanced out experience with younger rising talent. The players are all out to showcase their immense skills and strength as a team.

“They’re excited to get this opportunity to play on an international scale and to represent New Zealand in what will be a proud moment for players and their whanau.”

IRELAND ‘A’: Michael Lowry (Banbridge/Ulster); Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster), Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster), James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster); Ciaran Frawley (Skerries/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) (capt); Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster), Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Gavin Thornbury (Connacht), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Martin Moore (Ulster), Ross Molony (UCD/Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster).

ALL BLACKS XV: Ruben Love (Wellington/Hurricanes); Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/Chiefs), Braydon Ennor (Canterbury/Crusaders), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Auckland/Blues), AJ Lam (Auckland/Blues); Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs), TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes); Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs), Brodie McAlister (Canterbury/Crusaders), Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty/Hurricanes), Josh Dickson (Otago/Highlanders), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland/Blues) (capt), Dominic Gardiner (Canterbury/Crusaders), Luke Jacobson (Waikato/Chiefs), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Hawke’s Bay/Highlanders).

Replacements: Tyrone Thompson (Hawke’s Bay/Chiefs), Finlay Brewis (Canterbury/Crusaders), Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury/Crusaders), Zach Gallagher (Canterbury/Crusaders), Christian Lio-Willie (Otago/Crusaders), Cam Roigard (Counties Manukau/Hurricanes), Josh Ioane (Otago/Chiefs), Alex Nankivell (Tasman/Chiefs).

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal (England), Luc Ramos (France)
Television Match Official: Ian Davies (Wales)

Pre-Match Quotes: Gavin Thornbury (Ireland ‘A’) –

It’s exciting. I’m just really looking forward to Friday now. I was really excited when I got the news that I was coming into camp and then to get the start is building on that again.

“For the week that’s in it, we’re getting ready to play the All Blacks XV and the other lads are playing South Africa, so it’s an incredible week to be involved and to see how everything is run. It’s just been a really good experience for me.

“It’s just nice to be on the pitch and having minutes and even being able to consistently train. It’s refreshing for me because I spent so long out last year and it was a pretty dark time for me. To be here now is really refreshing for me.”

Patrick Tuipulotu (All Blacks XV) –

Ireland are a top side and they’re number one at the world at the moment. There’s nothing better than that. Ireland deserved it the way that they play.

“It’s there in their national team and their club teams and what they bring to world rugby. The couple of times I have played against Ireland I’ve lost a few, so that shows the record itself.

“It’s a small country, we all know each other. We all watch each other and play against each other. We seem to cross paths one way or another, so finding cohesion I don’t think is a problem for us.

“Maybe a few things to iron out the first day (in training), but we have showed this week that we are able to gel together at training. It feels like we’ve been together longer than a few days.”

Pre-Match Links –

Ireland ‘A’ Blends Youth And Experience – Five To Watch

‘Captaincy A Nice Step In Craig’s Journey’ – Farrell

Farrell: Stockdale And Moore Ready To Grasp Ireland ‘A’ Chance

Nucifora: We Have To Create Opportunity For Players

Previous Meetings –

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