New Zealand's McKenzie and Aumua to start against Ireland / Photo: © AFP
New Zealand's McKenzie and Aumua to start against Ireland
Damian McKenzie and Asafo Aumua will start for New Zealand in their showdown against Ireland on Friday in the only two, injury-enforced, changes to the run-on 15 that edged England.
McKenzie replaces fly-half Beauden Barrett and Aumua comes in for hooker Codie Taylor after the pair suffered head injuries and had to leave the field during last weekend's thrilling 24-22 win at Twickenham.
Both Barrett and Taylor are undergoing a mandatory 12-day standdown period after failing head injury assessments.
Taylor went off early at Twickenham, with replacement Aumua playing the rest of the match.
Barrett departed in the second half after an influential display, including two conversions and a slick try assist for full-back Will Jordan.
McKenzie came off the bench to kick a penalty and land a match-winning conversion from a tight angle.
Friday's fixture will be the first time New Zealand have faced world number one Ireland since the All Blacks' dramatic 28-24 World Cup quarter-final win in Paris last year.
But Ireland won a three-Test series in New Zealand 2-1 in 2022.
"This is a highly anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field," said New Zealand coach Scott Robertson.
Robertson, who took over after New Zealand's agonising World Cup final loss to arch-rivals South Africa, added: "We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England.
"We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team."
Mercurial playmaker McKenzie started the first eight Tests of Robertson's tenure but was moved to the bench for New Zealand's final Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Wellington in late September, with the more composed Barrett favoured.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell named his side earlier Wednesday.
New Zealand team (15-1)
Will Jordan; Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie; Cortez Ratima; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi; Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (capt); Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta
Coach: Scott Robertson (NZL)
M.E. De La Fuente--ESF
