Tadhg Furlong out of Ireland XV to face New Zealand as Keenan, Gibson-Park and Hansen return
by Michael Bolton · BreakingNews.ieTadhg Furlong has been ruled out of the Ireland side to face New Zealand on Friday night.
The Leinster prop will miss the game due to injury, with Finlay Bealham one of five changes to the side that defeated South Africa in July.
Mack Hansen returns to the wing ahead of Calvin Nash, while Hugo Keenan returns to full-back after his involvement with the Sevens side in the Olympics.
Having missed the South Africa tour due to injury, Jamison Gibson-Park returns at scrum-half, with Conor Murray picked ahead of Craig Casey on the replacements.
Andy Farrell has also been given the boost of Ronan Kelleher returning from injury to start at hooker, who was injured in Leinster’s URC round three win over Benetton in Treviso four weeks ago.
Peter O'Mahony also returns to the squad after recovering from injury. He is among the replacements, with Tadhg Beirne starting at flanker with James Ryan and Joe McCarthy in the second row.
Ciarán Frawley will provide cover for Jack Crowley, with Jamie Osborne covering the rest of the backs.
Ireland team to face New Zealand): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster); Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster).