Ireland team to face All Blacks - Big names return for Eden Park clash

The iconic Eden Park sets the scene for this third round clash, with the All Blacks 32-year, 52-Test unbeaten run on the line at the incredible Auckland stadium. Andy Farrell is expected to ring the changes once again for the third week of the competition, after his side put in an underwhelming display against Japan last time out. Farrell handed an assortment of fringe players and new faces their shot in the green jersey, as Sean Jansen, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward all debuted on the test match stage.

In this article, we are once again dusting off the crystal ball to predict who Andy Farrell will name for the incoming clash with the All Blacks in Auckland. With the big names well rested following their respective stand-downs against Eddie Jones' Japan, we foresee plenty of alterations to be made for this Saturday's marquee match-up with Dave Rennie's side.

We kick things off in the back-field, with Hugo Keenan expected to make his return to the back-field against New Zealand this weekend. Keenan, like many returning names to this predicted team, was handed the week off last time out and could only watch on as Ireland struggled for supremacy against Japan. Keenan comes straight back in at full-back in our eyes as the strongest option for the expected back-field peppering on the cards from the Barrett brothers and Damien McKenzie.

The wing pairing was quite a tough prediction, with the mind leaning towards the all-Leinster back-field trio of Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne and Jimmy O'Brien, whilst the heart would love to see a certain Ulster flyer retain their place in the squad. Andy Farrell was rather optimistic upon his assessment of Rob Baloucoune being cleared to face the All Blacks, after 'The Cat' picked up a hamstring issue in the lead up to the Japan match. A return for the in-form Baloucoune would be a much-needed lift to the Irish outside backs, who were underwhelming flat against the Brave Blossoms.

Last weekend was the ultimate proving ground for Leinster midfielder Robbie Henshaw, who left it all on the line upon his shot in the green jersey. The once first choice centre alongside Bundee Aki in Irish colours, Henshaw's knee injury mid-way through the 2025/26 season saw him drift from Andy Farrell's radar, with Stu McCloskey's break-out taking the lime-light. Henshaw was a rare gem for Ireland against Japan last weekend, and we believe that the Leinster man deserves to retain his starting jersey, for an unchanged midfield with an admittedly out of form Garry Ringrose left out of the match day 23.

It's proving all the more difficult to keep Bundee Aki out of the starting XV, yet we can see Andy Farrell once again go for his Ulster powerhouse Stu McCloskey in the 12 jersey. With the Connacht bulldozer poised for a collosal impact from the bench, we can see a realistic future in which Farrell sticks with midfield pairing of McCloskey alongside the in-form Robbie Henshaw, for this weekend's shot at the incredible Eden Park streak.

We predict Jamie Osborne to move across from full-back to the wing, with the versatile multi-tool asset proving invaluable to Andy Farrell's outside back ranks. With Tommy O'Brien left at home, and our optimism to see Baloucoune back in green this weekend, we see no better fit for the wing than the impressive Jamie Osborne. Capeable to cover across full-back and centre, Osborne will be a well-needed adaptable instrument for the hard-hitting battle with the All Blacks. A sub-par effort from Jimmy O'Brien sees the Leinster wing dropped, with Jacob Stockdale also rotated out of the squad.

The half-back pairing looks to be the most easy-to-predict area of the Ireland squad for the incoming match against New Zealand. With Jack Crowley left at home with injury, Sam Prendergast has been the first-choice fly half in the Ireland, as Ciaran Frawley and Harry Byrne jostle to be the number 22. Frawley started against Japan, in what was the new Connacht man's first Test start at fly half, and the out-half had a mixed bag against the Brave Blossoms in Newcastle. Prendergast deserves to return to the starting XV to face New Zealand, with Frawley providing multiple back-line coverage options from the bench.

Next up is the return of Jamison Gibson-Park to the starting XV, after the Leinster scrum-half was handed orders to rest and recover against Japan. Gibson-Park played no part in the second round win over Japan, as Craig Casey took the starting nine jersey, with Ulster's Nathan Doak in support of the Munster man for a brief cameo to close out the match. Gibson-Park looks a shoe-in to start in the country of his birth, as the New Zealand-born half-back prepares to lead the Eden Park streak ending efforts. We can see Casey taking a seat on the bench, following a strong effort against Japan.

The starting loose-head spot will more likely than not be handed back to Tom O'Toole, with the Ulster prop proving to be quite the iron man upon the Nations Championship Southern Series. After playing over 70 minutes against Australia, following the concussion injury to replacement prop Jeremy Loughman, O'Toole then started against Japan before giving way to debutant Billy Bohan. Whilst O'Toole had a sub-par scrummaging performance against the Brave Blossoms, we expect him to retain the one jersey once more, with Billy Bohan on the bench to build momentum following his debut.

The captain's armband is set to return back to Dan Sheehan this week, after the Leinster hooker handed the honours to Tadhg Beirne for his week out of action. Sheehan played no part in the win over Japan, with his presence sorely missed at the set-piece as Ireland battled through constant line-out issues against Eddie Jones' side. Ronan Kelleher had a sub-par shift upon his 50th Test cap, and we can see Sheehan slotting straight back into the starting pack, with Kelleher on the bench ahead of Tom Stewart.

It's time to bring back the veteran tight-head for the show-down in New Zealand, with the experienced Tadhg Furlong backed for his return, after he too was stood down for the match against Japan. With thankfully no injuries to report for the prop who has battled valiantly back to full fitness, it's anticipated to see Furlong back on the grass this weekend as Ireland take on the All Blacks at their spiritual home upon the North Island. Despite a solid debut, we expect Sam Illo to drop out of the replacements, with Tom Clarkson set for another run-on akin to his head-line taking efforts in round one against Australia.

Plenty to consider this week from a second row stand-point, after so much of the struggles against Japan originated from the set piece. The line-out was a let-down for Andy Farrell's side, with James Ryan dropped to the bench as an indirect result, yet also to cater for the return of Joe McCarthy to the starting XV. After being rested against Japan, Farrell will be eager to see his mulletted maestro back ruling the fly zone as Ireland look to tighten down their line-out against the likes of Sam Darry, who has proven to be a real menace at the line-out in a black jersey.

Whilst the same bet would have been to predict a return to regular programming with James Ryan packing down alongside Joe McCarthy in the engine room to face New Zealand, we would love to see Andy Farrell spice things up in the back row - which has a knock-on effect to the second row pairing. If Tadhg Beirne retains his spot in the second row, like he did for the latest hit-out against Japan, the door opens up for a hard-hitting trio in the back row, whilst also keeping the incredible Munster man on the pitch. Beirne has proven to be unstoppable and un-droppable since making his return from injury, and should retain his spot for a start against the All Blacks, with Ryan on the bench.

Now, here's where the forward pack gets's a bit interesting. Jack Conan seamlessly shifted from number eight to blindside flank this past weekend against Japan - and along with a soon to be discussed Connacht man - was the best player on the pitch for the men in green. Conan stole the show, along with several turnovers in the six jersey, as he led Ireland's fight through against the unrelenting Japanese attacking waves, that seriously threatened to derail what should have been a routine win. Sticking Conan back on the blind-side opens the door for an intriguing end to the Nations Championship for a certain Kiwi-born Ireland man.

The Leinster back row is also expected to make his return to the starting XV, despite the impressive competition for places in the back row. The six, seven and eight jerseys are arguably the most competitive spots from throughout the Ireland squad, yet we believe that the red scrum capped sensation that is Josh van der Flier is the best man for the job on the open side against the All Blacks. With the UCD original rested against Japan, the signals indicate towards van der Flier making his return to face whatever combinations Dave Rennie unleashes in black jerseys.

Now, we close off the starting XV with Sean Jansen's rugby story coming full circle. The Dunedin born man made his Ireland debut this past Saturday against Japan, and was nothing short of phenomenal against the Brave Blossoms. Jansen carried like a wrecking ball and was a constant presence on the defensive side of the ball, and bagged himself rightful Player of the Match honours upon his try-scoring dream debut. Handing Jansen the reins at number eight would be a statement from Andy Farrell, in that he does certainly pick the in-form players - with fewer Irish stars more in-form right now than Connacht Player of the Season.

With only 23 men allowed in the match day squad, we've also pieced together the supporting cast. The back row was the most tricky part to decipher, yet we have opted for the excelling Ulster star Nick Timoney ahead of Cian Prendergast, even after the Connacht man started against the Wallabies in round one. The predicted start to Sean Jansen really stirs up the back row, with the expected players taking their spots on the bench. The sole asterisk that remains is whether Jeremy Loughman will be cleared to play following his concussion, and if so, he could well take the 17 jersey from Billy Bohan.