PARIS: New Zealand stood down winger Mark Tele’a for breaking team protocol and chose Leicester Fainga’anuku in his place to face top-ranked Ireland in their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal at Stade de France on Saturday.
Coach Ian Foster opened the team announcement on Thursday by saying Tele’a wasn’t playing — not even in the reserves — for disciplinary reasons without elaborating.
“Nothing major but enough to keep him out of selection for this week,” Foster said. “He has trained well, (it) happens.”
It was a big call by a team which is an underdog against Ireland and could, by defeat, equal its worst ever finish at a Rugby World Cup.
“For us, it’s pretty clean cut,” Foster said. “We have dealt with it as a team and moved on. We believe what we stand for. I think that speaks volumes for the team when we make that sort of decision.”
Tele’a made his debut last November and has played most of New Zealand’s big matches since then. He started against France in the opening Rugby World Cup match and scored both New Zealand tries and another try in the demolition of Italy.
But Fainga’anuku was kept where he was on the left wing from the 71-0 pool win against Uruguay last Thursday as the All Blacks returned their big-hitters among six changes. That includes both first-choice props. Tyrel Lomax has recovered from a medial ligament strain and Ethan de Groot returns from suspension.
Fainga’anuku debuted in July last year during the infamous home series against Ireland. This year he scored 13 tries in 13 games for the Crusaders, helping them win Super Rugby Pacific. He got All Blacks games when Tele’a was rested. He scored a hat trick against Uruguay.
As expected, lock Scott Barrett and No. 8 Ardie Savea also returned to the forwards, while scrumhalf Aaron Smith, center Rieko Ioane and fullback Beauden Barrett were slotted in the backline.
Veteran hooker Dane Coles and lock Sam Whitelock give Foster great power on the bench, while Fletcher Newell offers cover at prop. Anton Lienert-Brown kept Tele’a out of the reserves.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell named on Wednesday an unchanged side from the 36-14 win against Scotland last weekend, with wingers Right winger Mack Hansen (calf) and James Lowe (eye) shaking off minor injuries from that game.
Ireland has a chance to win an 18th straight test and tie the tier one world record held by England and New Zealand. Ireland has won five of the past eight matches against the All Blacks, including a first-ever away series win in New Zealand.
Center Jordie Barrett is the only All Black selected for Saturday who played every minute of that series, while right winger Will Jordan is on a three-game try-scoring streak against Ireland.
The Irish have never passed the quarterfinals at the Rugby World Cup.
“To get through that would be a huge moment, a huge milestone,” backup scrumhalf Conor Murray said. “Traditionally, the All Blacks focus on themselves and what they can do and the standards they hold themselves to. But there is a bit of respect there now. Over the last number of years we’ve had great tussles with them.”
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Lineups:
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jonathan Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O’Brien.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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