Scott Robertson names ABs for Dublin Test

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is backing “world class” Damian McKenzie after selecting him in the 10 jersey to face Ireland on Saturday.

McKenzie’s return was one of two injury-enforced changes to the starting line-up to face the world number one side.

Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett were both ruled out due to concussions suffered in the win over England at Twickenham last week, meaning Asafo Aumua will start at hooker while McKenzie returns in the 10 jersey.

McKenzie started the first eight tests of the season at first five-eighth before being moved to the bench for the second Bledisloe Cup test win. He came off the bench last Sunday kicking a penalty and a vital sideline conversion to complete the comeback win.

“D-Mac is D-Mac, you get a bit of everything from him. When he’s on, he’s world-class and he showed some great touches and just kept believing in himself,” Robertson said today.

Robertson added when McKenzie is not on: “You just trust him.”

Aumua will make his third start of the season after playing 75 minutes last week. He is the only player to appear in every test this season.

George Bell will look to make his third All Blacks appearance off the bench, while Stephen Perofeta comes into the reserves as backs cover.

Prop Ethan de Groot misses out on the match-day squad for the second straight week after being dropped from selection to face England for not meeting “internal standards”.

Robertson said it was a ‘performance decision’ to go with Tamaiti Williams over de Groot.

“It’s a decision for the whole season. He’s [Williams] a 50-60 minute player. Got a couple of tough calls, we believe, last week against him. And he’s fit and ready to go and he’ll continue,” Robertson said.

Robertson said with a six-day turnaround between the England and Ireland tests, keeping continuity in the side was behind his selection calls.

“Trying to keep the continuity of the squad as much as possible, just with our training week and the six days. We’ve had some really good performances and good cohesion.”

The All Blacks and Ireland have not met since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, and Robertson said the match will be fresh in the minds of many fans heading along to the game.

“This is a highly anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field.

“We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England. We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team.”

Nine starters in the All Blacks side named for the Dublin test were in the squad that defeated Ireland in Paris.

Meanwhile, Ireland will be without prop Tadhg Furlong who suffered a reported groin injury at training.

All Blacks side to play Ireland:

1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea (vice-captain) 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett (vice-captain), 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele’a, 15. Will Jordan.

Replacements: 16. George Bell, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Stephen Perofeta.

Ireland side to play All Blacks:

1. Andrew Porter, 2. Rónan Kelleher, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10. Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Mack Hansen, 15. Hugo Keenan.

Replacements: 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

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission