Rugby World Cup: Mack Hansen fit to start Ireland’s clash with All Blacks, Aaron Smith warns of 'totally different' side
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Published 11/10/2023 at 14:19 GMT
Ireland will be unchanged for their huge World Cup quarter-final clash against New Zealand with Mack Hansen and James Lowe overcoming injury problems sustained in the victory against Scotland. Scrum-half Aaron Smith has warned the Irish to expect a “totally different” New Zealand side from the one they beat last summer, and dubbed Saturday’s meeting as a “World Cup final” for the All Blacks.
Highlights: England, Ireland and Wales all win at the Rugby World Cup
Mack Hansen and James Lowe will start Ireland’s crucial World Cup quarter-final clash against New Zealand on Saturday with Andy Farrell having named an unchanged team.
Connacht wing Hansen has shrugged off a calf injury he sustained in last weekend’s 36-14 victory over Scotland, while Lowe has overcome an eye problem in time to keep his place.
Despite sitting out in training this week, Hansen has been deemed fit enough to start, while lock James Ryan and centre Stuart McCloskey have dropped out of the squad.
Second-row Joe McCarthy and back Jimmy O’Brien have been handed spots on the bench.
The Ireland team will see Hansen and Lowe’s inclusion in the XV as a welcome boost, but New Zealand’s Aaron Smith has warned the Irish of a “totally different” All Blacks side to the one they faced last summer.
Farrell’s team were victorious in New Zealand’s home Test series for the first time, after responding to an opening defeat with back-to-back wins in a landmark achievement.
The second Test match sparked a 17-game winning run for Farrell’s side, which has made the world’s top-ranked side marginal favourites for this weekend’s mouth-watering clash.
A win in Paris would confirm Ireland’s spot in the semi-finals for the first time ever - where they would face either Wales or Argentina - but All Blacks scrum-half Smith has full belief that his team can make amends for last year’s defeat.
"Last year matters in the sense of taking the learnings," Smith told reporters. "But I believe we're a totally different team to July last year.
“We've got new coaches, and as a group that series really galvanised us, and yeah, I can't wait for Saturday to see what happens."
History is on Ian Foster’s side having won the World Cup on three occasions, while Ireland are still waiting for a knockout victory.
New Zealand have only ever exited the tournament at the last-eight stage once, in 2007, but it’s entirely plausible for Ireland to finally end their quarter-final hoodoo.
"My energy is pushed towards more the opportunity that's in front of us," Smith said, looking ahead with optimism rather than back, where the All Blacks recently lost to France and South Africa, two teams below Ireland in the world rankings.
"The excitement of what we can control as a group. If you're held down by the weight of the past, you won't be able to do anything, you won't be able to play well, you'll be too scared to do anything, to try things, to trust your instincts.
"Being free, being energised with intent - and there's plenty of intent and want this weekend. I don't think there's the burden or the statistics or the weight on us like that. It's a final at a World Cup for us and we're ready to go."
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