Joe Schmidt is not expected to rock the selection boat… too much.
Schmidt made a complete 15 changes from his team that defeated the All Blacks in Chicago but, now that a Tier One nation are back in town, he is set to stick with the men that made history.
The only change SportsJOE is expecting in Schmidt’s starting XV is the one enforced by Jordi Murphy’s knee ligament injury.
Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien came through the 52-21 win over Canada unscathed but Josh van der Flier should have done enough in Chicago to win that openside flanker role. O’Brien looks set to edge O’Mahony out in the support role.
Elsewhere, the backline is the same that began the 40-29 victory at Soldier Field. Conor Murray partners Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw continues with Jared Payne and the back three of Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney will be hoping to reach the heights they scaled last time out.
The Irish front row features Jack McGrath, captain and hooker Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong. The big call here was second row as Ultan Dillane and a fit again Iain Henderson were pressing for selection but Donnacha Ryan is set to stay in league with Devin Toner. CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip round out the back row with van der Flier.
The bench is not, as yet, set in stone but we are predicting Paddy Jackson and Keith Earls will replace Joey Carbery and Garry Ringrose, who both featured in that Chicago squad.
Ireland take on the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium from 5:30pm on Saturday. Having beaten the All Blacks for the first time in 111 years, on November 5, Ireland have a chance to cement their reputation as a team on the rise.
IRELAND’S PREDICTED XV
15. R Kearney
14. Trimble
13. Payne
12. Henshaw
11. Zebo
10. Sexton
9 Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best (c)
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. Van der Flier
8. Heaslip
Replacements: S Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Dillane, O’Brien, Marmion, Jackson, Earls
Aaron Kernan joins Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour to explain the work he’s doing for the Club Players Association. Derry captain Chrissy McKaigue talks Slaughtneil and a Dublin club advertising for hurlers gets a sore touch. Subscribe here on iTunes.
