Fainga'anuku in All Blacks team for Ireland quarter-final
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Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool A - New Zealand v Uruguay - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - October 5, 2023 New Zealand's Leicester Fainga'anuku REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
PARIS - All Blacks coach Ian Foster has kept power winger Leicester Fainga'anuku in his backline for the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland on Saturday.
Foster gave Fainga'anuku a runout in New Zealand's last pool game against Uruguay and his fine performance, including a spell in the centres, earned him a start in preference to Mark Telea.
Telea also breached team protocols, the team confirmed, although Foster said it was not a serious enough offence to prevent him from being selected.
Otherwise, Foster brought back all of his big guns with Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett and Aaron Smith all returning to the starting lineup.
In the front row, prop Ethan de Groot returns after suspension and Tyrel Lomax starts at tighthead despite suffering a knee injury against Uruguay.
Team: 15-Beauden Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Jordie Barrett, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 9-Aaron Smith, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane (captain), 6-Shannon Frizell, 5-Scott Barrett, 4-Brodie Retallick, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Samuel Whitelock, 20-Dalton Papali’i, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Damian McKenzie, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown REUTERS
