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Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v New Zealand
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Friday, 8 November Kick-off: 20:10 GMT
Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds; follow live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.
Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland’s opening autumn Test against the All Blacks on Friday.
While the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] did not specify the reason for Furlong’s absence, it is believed the Leinster tighthead prop, 31, sustained an injury in training.
He has been replaced in the Irish front row by Connacht’s Finlay Bealham, with Ulster’s Tom O’Toole promoted to the bench.
While Furlong is out, Ronan Kelleher has won his fitness race to deputise for the injured Dan Sheehan at hooker.
Ireland will be led by Caelan Doris, who was named captain for the autumn series. Peter O’Mahony, who captained Ireland to the Six Nations title earlier this year following Johnny Sexton’s retirement, is on the bench.
New Zealand, who beat Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, name their team at 16:00 GMT on Wednesday.
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While British and Irish Lions prop Furlong’s absence is a considerable loss to Ireland’s pack, head coach Andy Farrell welcomes back several of his backline players.
Full-back Hugo Keenan returns after his involvement with Ireland’s Olympic sevens team, while Jamison Gibson-Park is restored at scrum-half after injury ruled him out of the summer Test series in South Africa.
Mack Hansen, who missed the Six Nations and Springbok series because of a shoulder injury, starts on the right wing.
Jack Crowley is retained at fly-half while Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki, who missed the win over South Africa in Durban, are named in midfield.
Joe McCarthy and James Ryan line up in the second row, with Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier alongside Doris in the back row.
Ulster’s Rob Herring, who has not played yet this season, provides the hooker cover from the bench with Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne selected as the backline replacements.
After Friday’s much-anticipated rematch with the All Blacks, Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and Australia during their autumn campaign.
Image source, Getty ImagesMack Hansen’s last game for Ireland was last year’s World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand
“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side,” said Farrell, who will temporarily step aside from his Ireland duties after the autumn matches to focus on leading the British and Irish Lions next year.
“The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night, under lights, with a home crowd roaring us on.”
Ireland line-up
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
