Ireland coach Joe Schmidt plays it safe with team selection for World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand

Tough decisions: Joe Schmidt has opted for experience against the All Blacks
PA
Will Macpherson17 October 2019

Ireland have opted for experience as they look for a third win in four matches against New Zealand in Tokyo on Saturday and reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Coach Joe Schmidt said there were “half a dozen reasonably tight selection decisions”.

There are recalls for Rob Kearney and Peter O’Mahony at the expense of coming men Jordan Larmour and Tadhg Beirne, while Garry Ringrose comes into the centre in place of Bundee Aki, who will miss the rest of the tournament with a three-week suspension that Ireland will not contest.

Every member of their team has enjoyed the rare taste of victory over the All Blacks, either in 2016 in Chicago or last year in Dublin.

Schmidt, 54, will be desperate for a third win to ensure that his six-year spell in charge does not end with defeat to his homeland, but he knows he is up against it.

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“There are a host of challenges for us,” said Schmidt. “The All Blacks are always raising the bar and everyone else is chasing the bar.

“I think the unfortunate thing about selecting a 23 to play the All Blacks is that they can play very well and still not get the result. That’s the quality the All Blacks have.

“They [his team] have had some pretty successful experiences together. There’s a number of those players within the side who’ve contributed to a fair bit of history for us.

“The accumulation of those experiences together hopefully builds a bit of confidence, because you need to have some belief.

“You can’t go out against an All Blacks side and accept you’re second fiddle, you’ve got to put your best foot forward.”

Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton will become Ireland’s most prolific half-back pairing by starting together for the 56th time, while Schmidt has backed “big moments” player O’Mahony to turn the game his team’s way.

“He has been a bit of a big moments player for us; maybe not as many moments, but the big moments, they count,” said Schmidt. “He brings a leadership and experience and he’s a very effective lineout operator for us.”

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Meanwhile, Jack Goodhue was preferred to Ryan Crotty in the centres, and Codie Taylor got the nod at hooker over Dane Coles, as New Zealand named their squad.

Coach Steve Hansen believes Brodie Retallick could play the full 80 minutes if needed as he steps up his return from injury.

“Brodie is a bit of a freak when it comes to fitness. He’s got a big motor. He has an ability to play off long or short breaks. It’s all about how long we have to play him, or want to play him.”

Captain Kieran Read said his team would need to balance their emotions heading into the game.

“You’ve really got to embrace the emotions that will come,” said Read. “A finals game will certainly bring you a little bit more nerves, which is great to have.

"It’s important to mix that with a clear mind. I want the guys to be pretty fired up.”

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