All Blacks v Ireland Third Test
Where: Sky Stadium, Wellington
When: 7:05 p.m. Saturday
Coverage: Sky Sport 1, live updates on stuff
Ireland coach Andy Farrell urges his side to “bring a little chaos” to disrupt the All Blacks’ game plan for the series decider in Wellington.
Farrell’s Irish Team won his first test against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil last week and has an even rarer recording in getting more history, with what would be an iconic series win on Saturday night.
For Ireland, the final test of three – with the ledger tied at 1-1 – feels like a situation of all to win and nothing to lose, with all the pressure on Ian Foster and the All Blacks.
Farrell knows all too well that the All Blacks, who have undergone some changes since the 23-12 defeat in Dunedin, will be another animal in the blockbuster that will decide the series.
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Irish coach Andy Farrell wants his side to sow doubts among the All Blacks in the Wellington decision.
“Everyone realizes how big the task is, but there’s a lot of excitement dealing with it,” he said.
“The best thing about where we are now is that we know we can do better,” Farrell told media on Friday. “Although we had a decent result in the last test, hopefully our best will be saved until last.”
Farrell has named a regular with superstar first-five-eighth Johnny Sexton can play after he went down in the final minutes last week with a knee injury.
The only forced change is in midfield where Bundee Aki comes in for Garry Ringrose (concussion).
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Johnny Sexton has been appointed to play despite a knee injury last week.
If Ireland is ever going to win a series in New Zealand, now seems like just as good a time as the Irish with a wave of confidence, despite the All Blacks being hampered by a numerical score for much of the second Test. disadvantage – after the red card to Angus Ta’avao plus Leicester Fainga’anuku and Ofa Tuungafasi are booked.
“We’ll see if there’s that much improvement needed because we’re in control as much as they are,” Farrell enthusiastically told the media.
“They have a plan, but it’s up to us to make sure we bring a little bit of chaos into that plan. We have to make sure we put a little doubt in the minds of the All Blacks during the game.”
The Irish coach knows the All Blacks will be in pain and expects them to bounce back “incredibly strong”, but claims his side knows what’s coming.
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Andy Farrell congratulates Conor Murray on winning the All Blacks in Dunedin.
And that’s what makes Ireland excited for the chance to make history against a desperate All Blacks side with no apologies and in front of a Wellington home crowd.
“It really doesn’t get any better for us, we’ve talked about playing against the All Blacks when they have their backs against the wall or if they’ve suffered a defeat and we know what history says about that.
“But to have them in the last game before we break, now for one more season when we expect them to be stoked, really wanting to prove a point to us and to themselves, it couldn’t be better for us,” said Farrell . .
If Ireland wants to be a serious contender for next year’s 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Farrell believes Saturday’s series decision is just the type of test they need.
“To be able to deal with that kind of situation is exactly where we want to be.”