Given the sense of rivalry and occasion attached to next week's crunch meeting with the All Blacks at their Eden Park fortress, Ireland boss Andy Farrell was always likely to make changes for Saturday's contest with **** an.
With nine alterations from the line-up that started last weekend's dramatic 33-31 win over Australia in Sydney, Farrell has pumped new blood into the set-up with four uncapped players named in the matchday squad.
Sean Jansen starts at number eight, while Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward are named on the bench.
For New Zealand-born Jansen, a first outing in green caps a hugely impressive season. The 27-year-old scored 10 United Rugby Championship tries for Connacht and was third for tackles made with 219.
With captain Caelan Doris and a six-Test British and Irish Lion in Jack Conan above him in the pecking order, Jansen must seize his first chance to show Farrell what he can do in the Test arena just over a year out from the World Cup in Australia.
With nine alterations from the line-up that started last weekend's dramatic 33-31 win over Australia in Sydney, Farrell has pumped new blood into the set-up with four uncapped players named in the matchday squad.
Sean Jansen starts at number eight, while Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward are named on the bench.
For New Zealand-born Jansen, a first outing in green caps a hugely impressive season. The 27-year-old scored 10 United Rugby Championship tries for Connacht and was third for tackles made with 219.
With captain Caelan Doris and a six-Test British and Irish Lion in Jack Conan above him in the pecking order, Jansen must seize his first chance to show Farrell what he can do in the Test arena just over a year out from the World Cup in Australia.
3 months ago
