NZ Tour 2022 - Māori June 29th, NZ July 2nd, NZ July 9th, Māori July 12th, NZ July 16th, KO 8.05am

Māori All Blacks v IRELAND 

FMG Stadium, Hamilton, Wednesday 29th June, 2022

KO: 8.05am Irish Time

15. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped

14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps

13. James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 37 caps captain

11. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 96 caps

10. Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/Skerries) uncapped

9. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps

1. Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped

2. Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps

3. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps

4. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped

5. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 5 caps

6. Cian Prendergast (Connacht) uncapped

7. Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps

8. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Replacements

16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 20 caps

17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 116 caps

18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 23 caps

19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps

20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 27 caps

21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 96 caps

22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 32 caps

23. Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap

Disappointed that Harry is injured but can't say I'm surprised. Excited to see how Frawley goes though, and we'll find out if the "Frawley is our next best 10" brigade, have been right all along.

Hume gets his chance to play himself into the team for the 2nd test. Very excited to see how he goes. Having Aki inside him will suit him I think.

Extremely dynamic and mobile pack. Love the balance of the backrow, can't wait to see them in action.

I'm surprised both Larmour and Earls are starting. I thought JOB would be on the wing with Lowry at 15. And I would have thought Earls or Larmour would be starting at 14 in the first test. One of them must be doubling up. Surely Lowry doesn't play 15 with Keenan on the wing???

Very exciting team though altogether. Can't wait now.

Larmour and Earls both starting puts a spanner in the works for the test side with Mack out.

Lowry could get the nod on the wing as he’s probably the most similar to Mack in terms of playmaking ability.

with Henderson I wonder will they call up another lock/back row (move Baird to lock). Molony would probably be the front runner for lock

Is it on any radio station in Ireland or UK?

It's a big 'if' though. Out half is the most difficult position on the pitch to slot into having not played there in a long time. Particularly after over 2 years of not playing there, in a thrown together side. He's only played with 2 of the other backs before. It's a massive ask for him. And it would be insanely impressive if he was to shoot the lights out tomorrow.

I know there has been a large cohort banging the drum that he's an amazing ten, but that's based on hope more than evidence, because there is virtually no evidence. The reality is nobody really knows, because he hasn't played there. And it's important to understand that being a great player, doesn't always equal being a great ten. I think he'll do an ok job, but I just can't see a scenario where he puts in a 9/10 and catapults himself to being Sexton's undisputed backup and heir to his throne. I just don't see it, but hopefully I'm wrong.

As for Harry Byrne, I think he's got a lot of talent, but the guy is made of breadsticks and I just can't see him ever being an international or even provincial regular unfortunately. I think Farrell should cut his losses and move on. If he goes back to Leinster, gets over his injury woes and plays his way back in, then great. But he needs to end the fast tracking, it's doing him no good.

*7 starts

unlikely any of the starting back 3 tomorrow will start Saturday, tough to ask a player to play 140+ minutes in 4 days. Much more likely Keenan on the wing with lowry 15 & maybe larmour on the bench