Bundee Aki to start in final Test game in New Zealand

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Galway Daily rugby Aki and Fryday named Guinness Rugby Writers Players Of The Year

Three Connacht players have been named to the Irish squad in the final Test match against the All-Blacks in New Zealand this weekend.

Irish head Coach has made just one change to the lineup that triumphed in Dunedin last week, bringing Bundee Aki in to replace the Garry Ringrose, partnering with Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

Also from Connacht, Mack Hansen is staying on in the back three, while Finlay Bealham is among the replacements.

Hugo Keenan and James Lowe fill out the back row, with Johnny Sexton and Jamison Gibson-Park as half-backs.

The pack from the first two Tests lines out again in the final game of the tour with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlongin the front row and Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan at lock. Peter O’Mahony is at six, Josh van der Flier at seven and Caelan Doris is named at No.8.

The rest of the replacements are Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls.

This has been a good week for Sexton, as the captain celebrated his 37th birthday this week, just days after the historic win against the All-Blacks.

Ireland have secured two wins against New Zealand on this five match tour, first with the test historic 23 – 12 victory in Dunedin last weekend.

The midweek team followed up on this by claiming their own 30-24 win in Sky Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday.

This will be the setting of the final test match of the series again on Saturday, a welcome morale boost ahead of the deciding game.

The third Test against New Zealand will be broadcast live on SKY and RTE Radio.

IRELAND v New Zealand
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 16th July, 2022
KO: 8.05am Irish Time

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 22 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 59 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 39 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 14 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 107 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 19 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 9 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 59 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 32 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 86 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 19 caps

Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 117 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps