Two former All Blacks, and an ex-Ireland halfback, have called for selection changes as New Zealand aim to bounce back against the Irish this weekend.
The three-test series between the All Blacks and Ireland will go to a decider in Wellington on Saturday after the tourists clinched a famous first-ever win on Kiwi soil last weekend, beating the hosts 23-12 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
That result cancelled out the 42-19 thumping the All Blacks inflicted on Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland the week beforehand, meaning the series will go on the line at Sky Stadium in a matter of days.
The All Blacks are under immense pressure to deliver a successful result following their defeat last Saturday, a loss that leaves them in an all-time low World Rugby ranking of fourth after three losses from their last four tests.
In order to achieve that success, former All Blacks star Jeff Wilson has called for changes to be made to New Zealand’s starting lineup.
Speaking on The Breakdown, Wilson said he anticipates that Will Jordan and David Havili will both be included in this week’s starting lineup after missing out on the run-on team for the first two tests due to Covid.
Both players were excluded entirely from the first test in Auckland, and only Jordan returned via a try-scoring cameo from the bench in Dunedin.
The former 60-test outside back also believes that lock Scott Barrett will return to blindside flanker after starring there in the series-opener a fortnight ago.
That prospect should be feasible if Sam Whitelock returns from his concussion-enforced absence, as hinted at by All Blacks boss Ian Foster on Sunday.
The same could also be said if Tupou Vaa’i is available for selection after the youngster contracted Covid early last week.
“Going into this series, there would have been a team they wanted to play,” Wilson told The Breakdown.
“That was disrupted right from the very beginning through Covid, so I expect Will Jordan to get an opportunity, I expect David Havili to get an opportunity in the backline.
“I think they’re two guys that they would have had in their starting lineup, and they’ll go back and look at their original pack, the one with Scott Barrett on the blindside, that did the job well in the first game.”
