DUBLIN (AP) — Injured tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has been replaced by Finlay Bealham in the Ireland side facing New Zealand in the autumn test on Friday.
Furlong, a two-tour Lion, carried a hamstring strain into their training camp in Portugal and it hasn’t healed.
“We’ll take our time and hopefully he’s back sooner rather than later,” coach Andy Farrell said on Wednesday.
Bealham has backup from Tom O’Toole.
Ireland was already shorn of another first-choice front-rower, hooker Dan Sheehan, but was boosted by Ronan Kelleher passing fit after an ankle issue a month ago put his availability in doubt. Rob Herring was the reserve hooker despite not having played since July.
Bealham was the only change to the pack which started against South Africa in Durban in July and upset the Springboks 25-24 to level the series. That was Ireland’s last test.
No. 8 Caelan Doris continues as captain.
Backs Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan have come in after missing that tour. Gibson-Park and Hansen were injured while Keenan was with Ireland sevens preparing for the Paris Olympics.
Hansen hasn’t played for Ireland since the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal defeat to New Zealand a year ago in Paris because of a shoulder injury.
Inside center Bundee Aki was also back after being dropped for the second Springboks test.
The reserves include three centurions — Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray — and lock Iain Henderson, a two-tour Lion who missed the South Africa series.
O’Mahony confirmed his fitness from a hamstring injury only last weekend in a 40-minute shift for Munster against the All Blacks XV.
The backline cover included rookies Ciaran Frawley, who kicked two late winning drop goals in Durban, and Jamie Osborne.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks made two enforced changes after hooker Codie Taylor and flyhalf Beauden Barrett were concussed in the 24-22 win over England last Saturday at Twickenham.
As expected, Asafo Aumua starts after replacing Taylor in the first five minutes, and Damian McKenzie has the No. 10 jersey again after starting there in nine of 11 tests this year.
Hooker George Bell could make his third appearance off the bench and utility back Stephen Perofeta his seventh.
Ethan de Groot, their main loosehead this year, missed out again. He wasn’t picked against England due to breaching unspecified team protocols but the All Blacks said he’d be available to play Ireland.
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Lineups:
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand: 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 (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.
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