Joe Schmidt has made three changes to the side that lost disappointingly to Australia the last time out and they all come in the backs.
The Irish head coach has offered the bulk of the team a chance of redemption as they seek a historic first ever win over the All Blacks and the good news is that Brian O’Driscoll and Johnny Sexton are ready for action, while Rob Kearney has recovered from his rib cartilage injury to keep hold of the number 15 jersey.
Gordon D’Arcy comes back in to partner O’Driscoll after Luke Marshall was released back to the Ulster camp, while Dave Kearney is the beneficiary from Fergus McFadden’s injury against the Wallabies.
Kearney is rewarded for his fine form for Leinster and his two-try salvo against Samoa on his debut, with Luke Fitzgerald taking his place on the bench.
In keeping with his policy regarding scrum half rotation, Conor Murray is picked from the outset, with Isaac Boss named among the replacements.
Ireland team to play New Zealand: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Toner, P O’Connell, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, D Fitzpatrick, M McCarthy, K McLaughlin, I Boss, I Madigan, L Fitzgerald.
