Autumn Series: Teams up for Ireland v New Zealand II

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Unsurprisingly Ireland have made limited changes from the team that won round one in Chicago a fortnight ago with Sean O’Brien, in for the injured Jordi Murphy, the only change to the starting XV for Saturday’s game at the Aviva Stadium. Kick off 5:30pm. 

From the Ulster perspective I’m pleased to report that Paddy Jackson and Iain Henderson join the replacements on the bench with Ultan Dillane and Joey Carberry being the unfortunate pair to make way. 

New Zealand have made five changes to their starting XV and two on the bench. Israel Dagg leapfrogs straight into the starting line up with Waisake Naholo dropping to the bench. The centres are replaced by Malakai Fekitoa and Anton Lienert-Brown while the experienced second row pairing Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock replace Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino who both drop out of the squad, Kaino being injured. 

The games have started with New Zealand calling themselves underdogs according to coach Steve Hansen: 

As expected, there is huge excitement . . .

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