Robert Baloucoune returns to Ireland line-up for Nations Championship match against New Zealand
Ireland recalls key players for Eden Park clash
Ireland has recalled several key players for their upcoming Nations Championship match against New Zealand in Auckland. Head coach Andy Farrell has made nine changes to the squad that secured a 36-20 victory over Japan last week. Among those returning are captain Dan Sheehan, prop Tadhg Furlong, and fly-half Sam Prendergast. The team will face the All Blacks at Eden Park, a venue where New Zealand has maintained an unbeaten record since 1994, spanning 52 Tests.
Robert Baloucoune, the 28-year-old wing, is set to start after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of recent matches against Australia and Japan. Baloucoune had previously earned the Six Nations Rising Player award for his performance in Ireland’s Triple Crown campaign earlier this year. Six players from the previous week’s line-up have been retained: Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Stuart McCloskey, and Jimmy O’Brien.
The starting XV for Ireland boasts a combined 711 caps, indicating a focus on experience for this significant fixture. Hugo Keenan, who performed well against Australia, returns at full-back, with O’Brien moving to the left wing to accommodate Baloucoune’s return. Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale, who started on the left wing in previous matches, are not included in the matchday squad. Garry Ringrose will partner McCloskey in the midfield, while Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park will form the half-back pairing.
Squad adjustments and historical context
In the forward pack, O’Toole will make his fifth consecutive Test start at loose-head prop. Furlong, a three-time British and Irish Lion, and hooker Sheehan are reinstated in the front row. Joe McCarthy returns to the second row alongside Ryan, which sees Beirne, who captained Ireland last week, shift to blind-side flanker. Josh van der Flier and Conan complete the back row.
Thirteen of the 15 players selected for this match also started against Australia, with Baloucoune and Beirne being the only changes. Jeremy Loughman is named as loose-head cover on the bench, having recovered from a head injury. Other replacements include Ronan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, and Sean Jansen, who made his debut against Japan. Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, and Bundee Aki are the replacement backs.
Ireland enters the match with a six-game winning streak, but they have lost their last three encounters with the All Blacks. These losses include a 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final and November matches in Dublin and Chicago. Ireland’s last visit to Eden Park in 2022 resulted in a 42-19 defeat, though they subsequently secured a historic 2-1 Test series victory over the three-time world champions by winning in Dunedin and Wellington.
The All Blacks have also won their first two Nations Championship games, defeating France and Italy. This sets the stage for a significant clash between two teams with perfect records in the competition. Ireland has never beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park, but they have established themselves as a formidable opponent for New Zealand over the past decade. The match will be played on Saturday night.
Eden Park’s unbeaten legacy
Eden Park has been a stronghold for the All Blacks since 1994, marking a remarkable 52-Test unbeaten streak at the Auckland venue. This run began with an 18-18 draw against South Africa in 1994. The stadium has hosted numerous memorable moments, including Rugby World Cup glory in 2011 and clashes with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and 2017.
In 2025, the All Blacks extended their streak with victories over world champions South Africa, a 24-17 win in the Rugby Championship, and a 33-24 triumph over Australia to retain the Bledisloe Cup. The upcoming match against Ireland will once again put this unbeaten record on the line. Both teams enter the sold-out fixture with two wins from two matches in the competition.
The All Blacks’ unbeaten run at Eden Park spans since 1994.
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Source: bbc.com
