Breaking: The All Blacks Have Named Their Team To Face Ireland & There’s A Few Surprises

The All Blacks team to play Ireland in the historic opening Test match of the Vista Northern Tour at Soldier Field, Chicago, on Saturday 5 November, has been named, with new All Black Scott Barrett set to make his Test debut from the bench and Julian Savea to play his 50th Test.

Joe Schmidt is set to name his team later today, but whoever gets the nod is in for a tough test against one of the greatest sporting teams the world has ever seen. Kieran Read captains a side that contains the likes of Dane Coles, Julian Savea, Ben Smith, Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith

The inclusion of Jerome Kaino in the second row and George Moala at centre will come as a surprise to some, but regardless it’s a pretty formiddable looking team.

Here’s the team in full.

1. Joe Moody (20)
2. Dane Coles (46)
3. Owen Franks (87)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (10)
5. Jerome Kaino (75)
6. Liam Squire (6)
7. Sam Cane (37)
8. Kieran Read – captain (94)
9. Aaron Smith (54)
10. Beauden Barrett (46)
11. Julian Savea (49)
12. Ryan Crotty (24)
13. George Moala (3)
14. Waisake Naholo (8)
15. Ben Smith (58)

16. Codie Taylor (11)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (2)
18. Charlie Faumuina (42)
19. Scott Barrett *
20. Ardie Savea (9)
21. TJ Perenara (26)
22. Aaron Cruden (43)
23. Malakai Fekitoa (20)

Can Ireland defeat them? Judging by that line-up, it will be no easy task.