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Hooker Kelleher ready to face New Zealand, but Furlong out
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Hooker Kelleher ready to face New Zealand, but Furlong out

Nov 6 (Reuters) – Hooker Ronan Kelleher has been declared fit to face New Zealand in Ireland’s opening autumn international in Dublin on Friday, but prop Tadhg Furlong will miss the clash due to injury. ‘an injury as manager Andy Farrell named his squad on Wednesday.

Finlay Bealham will scrum in place of Furlong, with Tom O’Toole among the replacements.

Kelleher overcame an ankle issue, which will be a relief for Farrell with Dan Sheehan out due to injury. The experienced Andrew Porter makes up the rest of the front row on the loosehead side.

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan form the lockdown duo, with Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier the two flankers and captain Caelan Doris at number eight.

Several defensive players returned from Ireland’s last outing, a narrow win over South Africa in Durban in July, including a trio of New Zealand-born players.

Jamison Gibson-Park returns at scrum-half with number 10 partner Jack Crowley, while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose make up the central duo.

Fullback Hugo Keenan and wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe make up the bottom three.

“I’m really pleased with the team’s effort throughout the week’s training camp in Portugal,” Farrell said.

“Since gathering at the Irfu High Performance Center last week, the players have really applied themselves to training and it is great to see a number of players returning from injury, which is testament to their diligence. and the superb work of the medical team.

“It’s an extremely exciting four weeks ahead at the Aviva Stadium and we know we will need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand team.”

The previous meeting between Ireland and New Zealand was in the quarter-finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup, which the All Blacks won 28-24 in Paris.

Team:

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 (captain), 7-Josh van der Flier, 6-Tadhg Beirne, 5-James Ryan, 4-Joe McCarthy, 3-Finlay Bealham, 2-Ronan Kelleher, 1-Andrew Porter

Substitutions: 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.

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Reporting by Nick Said Editing by Christian Radnedge

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