Weepu captains All Blacks in Limerick
Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:49
Call to arms: Piri Weepu will lead the All Blacks in Limerick
Scrumhalf Piri Weepu will captain New Zealand when they play Irish province Munster in a tour match at Thomond Park, Limerick, on Tuesday.
Coach Graham Henry has named a much-changed team from that which smashed Ireland 22-3 in Dublin at the weekend.
Several frontline players like regular captain Richie McCaw and ace flyhalf Dan Carter have been given a complete break and have not even been named on the bench.
Tasman prop Ben Franks and Taranaki loose forward Scott Waldrom have both been named in the starting XV for their run-on debuts.
There are also two more potential newcomers on the bench in Hawkes Bay hooker Hikawera Elliott and Wellington back Alby Mathewson.
This match celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of Rugby Union's greatest shock results.
On October 31 1978, Munster beat New Zealand 12-0 at Thomond Park - still the sole victory by any Irish side over the All Blacks.
The only match on New Zealand's tour that isn't a Test, Tuesday's game will also mark the official opening of the redeveloped Thomond Park.
"The Munster match will be a special occasion for the team and the guys are really looking forward to visiting Limerick," said Henry.
"The team also knows that it will be a hard, physical match against the European club champions."
However, neither team will be at full-strength.
New Zealand, who beat Ireland 22-3 on Saturday, are away to Wales this coming weekend and their side for the Munster match features just one member of the run-on side at Croke Park in wing Joe Rokocoko.
But the team does contains eight players who started New Zealand's 32-6 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield earlier this month.
Munster too are likely to be depleted, having provided eight members of the Ireland run-on XV beaten by the All Blacks and with the national team in action this weekend against Argentina.
But the province's former All Black wing Doug Howlett is expected to play at a venue renowned for the raucous, but sporting, support of Munster's fans.
"The All Blacks are delighted to be heading back to Thomond Park for the official opening of the renovated stadium," said Henry. "It's a special part of rugby history."
Munster named a 23-man squad for the game, but coach Tony McGahan may be in a position to add to that squad after Ireland players - who faced the All Blacks at Croke Park at the weekend - have been assessed.
"Right now these are the players we have had at training, while the internationals are taking place," McGahan said.
"Obviously those games take precedence and we have to just wait and see what the international management require in terms of players following on from the All Blacks game with another international to face into."
Teams:
Munster squad: Federico Pucciariello, Timmy Ryan, Dave Ryan, Frank Sheahan, Denis Fogarty, Donncha Ryan, Mark Melbourne, James Coughlan, John O'Sullivan, Niall Ronan, Justin Melck, Billy Holland, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Brian Carney, Anthony Horgan, Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, Rua Tipoki, Paul Warwick, Jeremy Manning, Conor Murray, Mike Prendergast
New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Isaia Toeava, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Piri Weepu (captain), 8 Liam Messam, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliott, 17 John Afoa, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Richard Kahui, 22 Mils Muliaina.
Date: Tuesday, November 18
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 19.30 (19.30 GMT)
Referee: TBC
