New Zealand captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina are set to become the most-capped All Blacks of all time when they both make their 93rd Test appearances, against Ireland on Saturday.
Both men were named in the starting side for this weekend’s international at Lansdowne Road, announced by coach Graham Henry on Thursday after equalling former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick’s record of 92 caps in last week’s 49-3 thrashing of Scotland at Murrayfield.
The starting XV shows five changes to the side that overwhelmed the Scots, with centre Ma’a Nonu back in the side partnering Conrad Smith in the centres, despite rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams’s man-of-the-match display at Murrayfield. Williams drops down to the bench.
Cory Jane, fit again after shoulder and chest injuries, returns at right wing in place of Isaia Toeava while Andy Ellis, who came off the bench at Murrayfield, is in at scrum-half instead of Jimmy Cowan.
In the back row Jerome Kaino returns to blindside flanker, with Liam Messam on the bench, while lock Tom Donnelly gets his first start since the 26-24 loss to Australia in Hong Kong on October 30.
“One of the aims of this tour is to build the foundations of the team for the future so there have only been a few changes from the team that beat Scotland,” said Henry, who aims to guide the All Blacks to only their second World Cup title when New Zealand hosts next year’s edition.
“We were pleased with the physicality and accuracy shown against the Scots and we will look to improve on that this weekend.
“However, the team also knows they will be up against a very good Irish team which they respect.”
New Zealand are halfway to a third ‘grand slam’ in five years, having already defeated England and Scotland on their tour of Britain and Ireland.
They go into Saturday’s match having never lost to Ireland in the 23 Tests between the two countries dating back to 1905, with the All Blacks’ most recent success a 66-28 victory in New Plymouth earlier this year.
This weekend’s fixture could also see New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter become Test rugby’s leading international points scorer. He is currently just 20 points shy of England stand-off Jonny Wilkinson’s world record of 1 178 points.
Meanwhile, another win for Tri-Nations champions New Zealand would give former Wales boss Henry his 100th victory as an international rugby coach (he currently has 76 with the All Blacks, 22 with Wales and one with the British and Irish Lions).
Ireland, who began their November programme with a 23-21 loss to world champions South Africa and failed to sparkle in a 20-10 victory over Samoa last weekend, were due to name their team later on Thursday. — Sapa-AFP