Beirne has the world champions in his sights

TADHG BEIRNE is targeting a shot at the All Blacks after his all-action display against the Azzurri at Soldier Field. Joe Schmidt handed the Munster lock his first Test start in Chicago and he grabbed his opportunity with a powerful display, capped by a brace of tries. Beirne has put himself in the reckoning for this Saturday’s in Chicago meeting with Argentina at Aviva Stadium, but the big one against New Zealand on November 17 is the one every player in Schmidt’s squad is aiming for. ‘They are No 1 in the world,’ said Beirne. ‘You grow up watching those Ireland and All Black games, especially the one in Chicago two years ago. It would be pretty cool to play them.’ Beirne and Quinn Roux formed a new-look secondrow partnership against Italy with veteran lock Devin Toner entering the fray as a second-half replacement. James Ryan was part of the 26-man squad which travelled to the States but he was given the weekend off while Iain Henderson remained at Carton House last week. It sets up a fascinating selection battle over the next two weeks. Beirne, Roux, Toner and Ryan will have to recover quickly from any jet-lag as Ireland ramp