Crotty out, Sonny Bill on bench for New Zealand
TOKYO: Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams was benched and fellow centre Ryan Crotty missed out altogether as New Zealand named their team for tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Ireland.
In-form Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue got the nod for the defending champions in midfield, coach Steve Hansen saying it had been a tough proposition to sort out his centre combination.
“We’ve got 31 people available for selection. Every team you pick you look at the opposition, what you’re after and the midfield was no different,” Hansen said yesterday. “You come down to having more people good enough to start than you have to leave out.
“In this case Ryan’s missed out. That doesn’t mean to say that if we’re fortunate enough to go further in the tournament that he won’t make the next team.
“But just for this game, we thought the combination of Jack, LB and Sonny was the one for us.”
Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett starts at full-back, with relatively inexperienced wingers George Bridge and Sevu Reece completing the back three.
Richie Mo’unga is named at flyhalf alongside regular scrum-half Aaron Smith.
Kieran Read captains from No.8, where he lines up with Sam Cane and Ardie Savea. Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock pack down in the boiler house, with Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala propping up Codie Taylor.
Meanwhile Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw will replace banned centre Bundee Aki for their World Cup quarter-final against defending champions New Zealand tomorrow.
Aki was banned for three games for a high tackle in Ireland’s final pool match against Samoa, his World Cup coming to an end after the Irish Rugby Football Union decided yesterday not to appeal the ban.
Coach Joe Schmidt named an otherwise strong side to take on the All Blacks, with Henshaw partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield.
Hooker Rory Best will skipper the team, with Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong joining him in the front row.
Iain Henderson and James Ryan pack down at lock with Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander in the back row.
The experienced duo of Conor Murray and World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton were named at halfback, while Rob Kearney, at full-back, Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale fill the back three.
TEAMS
New Zealand (15-1): Beauden Barrett; Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Nepo Laulala, Cody Taylor, Joe Moody Replacements: Dane Coles, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony; James Ryan, Iain Henderson; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour