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New Zealand and Ireland both name strong squads

Roar Guru
4th June, 2012
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Steve Hansen wouldn't put up with accusations that his side are dirty, but a high shot is a high shot. AAP Images
Roar Guru
4th June, 2012
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New Zealand has named their squad with a number of new caps, similar to Ireland. The presence of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter in the team will bring comfort to a lot of New Zealand fans.

These two additions should assure the Kiwis yet another three victories, to go with the other twenty-odd they’ve already had. Or will they?

Ireland has had to travel without a few household names due to injury – Paul O’Connell, Tom Bowe, Stephen Ferris.

But for all of that the squad has some interesting names, who are going to get their last chance to play for their country against the New Zealanders on home turf.

How do the various players compare against each other?

The two hookers for New Zealand have a much greater combined experience over Rory Best and Sean Cronin, though both have sufficient caps under their belt.

The greenhorn, Mike Sherry of Munster, will certainly have a baptism of fire if he gets a call up.

Andrew Hore (62)
Keven Mealamu (92)
versus
Rory Best (59)
Sean Cronin (19)
Mike Sherry*

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Either side of them, New Zealand are streets ahead in the propping stakes.

The Franks brothers, along with Tony Woodcock and Wyatt Crockett, will give the Irish front row a torrid time.

The only experienced Irish tighthead Mike Ross is in doubt for the first Test, in which case Declan Kidney only has three newbies to call on.

Declan Fitzpatrick of Ulster is likely to get the call up. He deputised for John Afoa in Ulster’s Heineken semi-final and acquitted himself well.

Loughlin and Wilkinson, both from development province, Connacht, must be gulping hard.

Wyatt Crockett (6)
Ben Franks (15)
Owen Franks (31)
Ben Tameifuna*
Tony Woodcock (83)
versus
Mike Ross (20)
Cian Healy (30)
Declan Fitzpatrick*
Ronan Loughney*
Brett Wilkinson*

NZ don’t have Brad Thorn and Ireland don’t have Paul O’Connell.

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These are big shoes to be filled by the players stepping in.

Ali Williams and Donncha O’Callaghan are the two old heads – will either of them start though? A good few Irish fans are hoping that Ryan and Tuohy start a new second-row partnership.

Brodie Retallick*
Luke Romano*
Samuel Whitelock (25)
Ali Williams (73)
versus
Donncha O’Callaghan (85)
Donnacha Ryan (18)
Dan Tuohy (2)
Mike McCarthy (4)

In the loose, the incomparable Richie McCaw looms large over the back-row artists and O’Brien will have his work cut out against the maestro.

Unfortunately Jerome Kaino and Stephen Ferris are not available, so the blindsiders stepping up will be looking to make names for themselves.

Kevin McLaughlin has only two caps to his name. There is the possibility of O’Brien taking over his original six shirt and either O’Mahony or Henry taking the openside.

Heaslip will remember his red card the last time out and will be looking to out-perform Read. Either he or Best will lead the pack in O’Connell’s absence.

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Sam Cane*
Richie McCaw (103)
Kieran Read (36)
Adam Thomson (24)
Victor Vito (13)
versus
Sean O’Brien (19)
Kevin McLaughlin (2)
Jamie Heaslip (48)
Peter O’Mahony (4)
Chris Henry (1)

The inclusion of Piri Weepu over Andrew Ellis has raised a few Kiwi eyebrows. With newbie Aaron Smith on the bench, there will be a lot of expectation on his shoulders if he starts.

Eoin Reddan and Conor Murray might hope to gain some parity here.

Aaron Smith *
Piri Weepu (56)
versus
Eoin Reddan (42)
Conor Murray (6)
Paul Marshall *

The grizzled head of Ronan O’Gara sticks out like a sore thumb in the next grouping.

A lot of Irish fans would have liked to have seen Sexton’s Leinster partner Ian Madigan get a shout for this tour.

Will Daniel Carter start or will Aaron Cruden get the nod?

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Hopefully Kidney doesn’t change his mind again and puts Sexton into the ten shirt for every Test alongside his Leinster nine partner Reddan.

This will be a great match-up: Carter – the acknowledged king – versus Sexton, who is still having to prove himself in a green shirt, despite his provincial successes in blue.

Daniel Carter (85)
Aaron Cruden (9)
Beauden Barrett*
versus
Jonny Sexton (29)
Ronan O’Gara (121)

There are more grizzled heads in the centre for both sides.

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll will lead his team out for the last time on tour in New Zealand.

Alongside him, more than likely, will be Gordon Darcy.

Will they face their old nemeses – Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu? Or will newbie Tamati Ellison get a look in and Sonny Bill Williams move to the wing?

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It should be a good battle, regardless of the make-up.

Tamati Ellison (1)
Ma’a Nonu (66)
Conrad Smith (55)
Sonny Bill Williams (14)
versus
Brian O’Driscoll (117)
Gordon Darcy (68)
Darren Cave (2)
Fergus McFadden (11)

The back-three partnerships could also prove to be one of the key battlegrounds of the series.

Ireland has a strong edge on Test experience over their New Zealand opponents, but Israel Dagg showed what he can do the last time New Zealand thrashed Ireland in 2010.

Rob Kearney has been in superb form for both Leinster and Ireland this season and was recently awarded European Player of Year.

Hopefully lots of tries are scored from both sides and that some of the new faces – such as Julian Savea and Simon Zebo – get a chance to show their paces.

Israel Dagg (12)
Hosea Gear (8)
Zac Guildford (8)
Ben Smith (2)
Julian Savea*
versus
Keith Earls (31)
Andrew Trimble (46)
Rob Kearney (38)
Simon Zebo*

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