Blacks line big armada against Ireland

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has decided to rely on his team-type for the quarter-final World Cup Saturday against Ireland (19:15 local, 12:15 French) in Tokyo. The world's best player in 2017 and 2018 Beauden Barrett will be lined up at the back, Hansen leading the hinge of Aaron Smith to the scrum-half position and Richie Mo'unga at the opening.

Sonny Bill Williams on the bench

"There is a lot of energy and excitement in this team, which is normal at this level of competition where there is no room for error, it adds pressure," said Hansen. . The 31 All Blacks were available for this meeting, the star Sonny Bill Williams starts on the bench while the experienced center Ryan Crotty does not appear on the score sheet.

The only small uncertainty was the pair of centers, where Hansen chose to associate Anton Lienert-Brown with Jack Goodhue, while Brodie Retallick is confirmed in the second row despite his low play time (31 minutes against Namibia on 6 October ) since a shoulder injury in July.

This XV of the All Blacks has 1075 capes in total, including 125 for the captain Kieran Read, who participates in his third World Cup. Four players (Laulala, Whitelock, Savea, Taylor) play their fourth consecutive game in Japan and could be joined by three substitutes (Tuungafasi, Perenara, Ta'avao), if they come into play.

Starting XV: B. Barrett – Reece, Goodhue, Lienert-Brown, Bridge – (o) Mo'unga, (m) A. Smith – Cane, Read, A. Savea – Whitelock, Retallick – Laulala, Taylor, Moody

Alternates: Coles, Tuungafasi, Ta'avao, S. Barrett, Todd, TJ Perenara, S.B. Williams, J. Barrett