Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher has been passed fit to face New Zealand in Friday’s showdown in Dublin, but prop Tadhg Furlong will miss the clash through injury.
Finlay Bealham will scrum down at tighthead in the place of Furlong, with Tom O’Toole among the replacements.
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Kelleher has overcome an ankle problem, which will be a relief to coach Andy Farrell, with Dan Sheehan also missing through injury. The experienced Andrew Porter makes up the rest of the front row on the loosehead side.
Joe McCarthy and James Ryan will be the hosts’ lock pairing, with Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier the two flankers, and captain Caelan Doris at number eight.
There are several returning backline players from Ireland’s last outing – a narrow victory over South Africa in Durban in July – including a trio of New Zealand-born players.
Jamison Gibson-Park is back at scrum-half to partner number 10 Jack Crowley, while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose make up the centre pairing.
Fullback Hugo Keenan, and wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe are the back three.
“I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal,” Farrell said.
“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead at the Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side.”
Ireland’s previous meeting with New Zealand was last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which the All Blacks won by 28-24 in Paris.
Ireland (15-1): Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Caelan Doris (capt), Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
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