Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary insists he is undaunted by the prospect of making his first Test start for Ireland against a powerful All Blacks side that is bent on a Grand Slam of wins over the home nations.
O’Leary’s powerful physique saw him awarded the No. 9 shirt for the first big test of new coach Declan Kidney’s regime, with Eoin Reddan, who played in the 55-0 win over Canada at the weekend, dropped to the bench.
O’Leary, 25, will have Ronan O’Gara outside him and is relishing the prospect of the battle with New Zealand’s half-back pairing of Jimmy Cowan and Dan Carter.
“I’ve been working hard to get back into the Ireland team so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve been improving my game and I feel like I’ve been feeling the benefits.”
“The All Blacks are the biggest possible way to make your first start,” O’Leary said. “It’s nice when the coach has selected you but it’s a big squad, so I’m not going to read too much into any selection.”
Kidney, eager not to build up expectation on his surprise pick, insists O’Leary, who has ousted the experienced Peter Stringer from Munster’s first XV, had earnt his call-up the hard way.
“He’s learnt many things, experiencing the ups and downs that every professional has along the way,” Kidney said.
“He has good attributes. He’s been playing well the last couple of seasons and is keeping out some exceptionally good players, so he must be good. I think highly of him,” he said.
Kidney has also opted for the experience of Girvan Dempsey at full-back, recalling the Leinsterman at the expense of rookie Keith Earls.
Two changes in the front row see prop John Hayes and hooker Rory Best replace Tony Buckley and Jerry Flannery, who settle for places among the substitutes.
A tough call in the back row sees Alan Quinlan usurp Stephen Ferris, a star performer against Canada, at blindside with David Wallace replacing Shane Jennings in the number seven jersey.
“There are several changes that weren’t easy because all of the guys played well against Canada,” Kidney said. “I believe we’ve selected a team with the best skill-set to give us a chance against New Zealand.”
“The back row possess a wealth of experience at international as well as provincial level, and that’s what we hope they’ll bring to the team,” he said.
New Zealand’s respect for the Irish has been underlined by the return of captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Dan Carter to their line-up.
The superstar pair were left on the bench until late on as the All Blacks began their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland with a 32-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Coach Graham Henry made it clear after that match that he expected a far tougher challenge from the Irish and that is reflected in a starting XV that features only four of the players who started against Scotland.
“The Irish showed passion and physicality when they played us in New Zealand earlier in the year and we are expecting another tough Test match,” Henry said.
New Zealand won that match, in Wellington, 21-11.
Joe Rokocoko and center Ma’a Nonu are the only survivors from the Murrayfield match among the backs. Rokocoko will win his 50th cap on the right wing as Sitiveni Sivivatu comes in on the opposite flank with Anthony Tuitavake dropping out of the 22.
Mils Muliaina starts at fullback with Isaia Toeava on the bench, center Richard Kahui makes way for Conrad Smith and scrum Piri Weepu drops to the bench to make way for Cowan.
Lock Ali Williams and hooker Keven Mealamu are the only survivors from the pack that started against the Scots.
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