Who is going to take the field in Dublin this Saturday in what is set to be the All Blacks biggest Test of the year? We had a go at predicting.

Starting XV:

1. Joe Moody

2. Dane Coles

3. Owen Franks

4. Brodie Retallick

5. Samuel Whitelock

6. Jerome Kaino

7. Sam Cane

8. Kieran Read ©

9. TJ Perenara

10. Beauden Barrett

11. Julian Savea

12. Anton Lienert-Brown

13. Malakai Fekitoa

14. Israel Dagg

15. Ben Smith

In the front row we have Moody back starting after a stint on the bench against Italy with Coles & Franks back after a week off.

The locking duo of Retallick and Whitelock return with Whitelock demonstrating at training this week he is good to go. Retallick, as we mentioned in our recap of the Italy Test, proved against Italy that he’s also good to go seek revenge on an Irish team that ran amok in his absence.

The loose trio of Kaino, Cane & Read will be linked up again to fire on all cylinders and keep this All Blacks team moving with front foot ball. Kaino will be back in the #6 jersey that he was so missing from in Chicago.

Perenara will be paired up with newly crowned IRB Player of the Year, Beauden Barrett, to ensure the All Blacks start the match at 100% and also to remind us of the magic that happens when these two are in the #9 & #10 jersey. Check out highlights from the Hurricanes championship Super Rugby season if you need a refresher before Saturday.

Lienert-Brown & Fekitoa will start in the midfield after the ideal warm up together last weekend in Rome. With Crotty out, the All Blacks are a little light on options in the 12/13 jerseys and the selectors appeared to use last week in Rome to prepare these two for their biggest Test of the year.

Julian Savea will hold down the #11 jersey after a week off to refresh and refocus after a lacklustre display in Chicago. Dagg will start on the right wing and provide support to Ben Smith at fullback under the high ball. If the Irish continue the tactics of Chicago, Dagg’s ability in the air and his massive boot could be crucial for this team to secure an All Blacks victory.

Reserves:

16. Codie Taylor

17. Wyatt Crockett

18. Charlie Faumuina

19. Patrick Tuipulotu

20. Ardie Savea

21. Aaron Smith

22. Aaron Cruden

23. Lima Sopoaga

Taylor, Crockett and Faumuina provide a solid mix of experience and impact to take the field when the front row begin tiring.

Tuipulotu will cover lock after showing a huge ticker and impact against Italy. A specialist lock on the bench will provide the ability to adapt/react to any continuation of Irish tactics from Chicago which specifically targeted the All Blacks in this area.

Ardie Savea, like his brother Julian, is back in the match day 23 to provide huge impact off the bench. The team will be looking for a huge performance from this dynamic but raw talent who, once again, has a chance to remind us why he’s such a special player for the future.

Aaron Smith gets a chance off the bench again after a solid run against Italy in the #21 jersey. Earlier in the year we saw the huge impact that taking him out of the starting halfback roll has on his desire and hunger to perform. Look out for him making a mark on the game around 50mins if the Irish are up on the scoreboard.

Cruden is in the 22 jersey to cover mainly 10/12 but also 11/14 if needed. His higher goal kicking % and a strong performance against Italy puts the All Blacks in a good position if he’s called on early, due to injury, or later in the match for impact.

Lima Sopoaga will put the 23 jersey on to cover 10, 12 and 13. With Crotty out the All Blacks need midfield cover to prevent the issues highlighted with early injuries in Chicago. Sopoaga also has the ability to fill on on the wing if Dagg needs to shift to fullback and his high kicking % gives the All Blacks piece of mind that there’ll be plenty of options to kick that match winning penalty or drop goal if it comes down to that.

As always, we’ll have the full match day 23 up here on Fly Half once it’s announced!