Crowley starts at 10 with Doris on bench for Ireland against All Blacks

Jack Crowley has been named at fly-half in Ireland’s much-anticipated Chicago rematch against New Zealand, while returning captain Caelan Doris will start on the bench.

With Doris among the replacements, Jack Conan starts at number eight while Dan Sheehan will skipper Ireland for the second time, having taken on the role in the Six Nations win over Wales earlier this year.

Sheehan is joined in the front row by Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, who also started at tight-head prop in Ireland’s historic win over the All Blacks at Soldier Field in 2016.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy is poised to make his Test debut after being named on the bench.

Injuries to Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen have forced head coach Andy Farrell to shake up his back three, with Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien selected at full-back and right wing.

Joe McCarthy’s foot injury means James Ryan starts in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne, with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier alongside Conan in the back row.

Stuart McCloskey will start alongside Garry Ringrose in midfield with Bundee Aki, who has been struggling with a hip injury, named on the bench. Ringrose and Van der Flier featured off the bench in Ireland’s historic Chicago win over the All Blacks in 2016.

“It is a real privilege to be back here in Chicago ahead of a huge game against New Zealand. We’ve been received brilliantly by the local community and there are going to be thousands of Irish supporters cheering us on which is something that will inspire the team,” said Farrell.

“The historic nature of this game is something we are embracing and there’s great excitement in the squad, not least for Paddy McCarthy who is set to make his international debut this weekend.

Ireland: J Osborne; T O’Brien, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan (capt), T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Crowley’s return to the 10 jersey is not overly surprising, but still significant. The Munster man was Ireland’s first-choice out-half during their 2024 Six Nations title win, but lost his place to Sam Prendergast during last year’s autumn Tests.

However, Crowley has started the season strongly and his starring role in Munster’s comprehensive United Rugby Championship win over Leinster has helped him edge out Prendergast.

Doris has been sidelined since May after undergoing shoulder surgery that ruled him out of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and while he has returned to training, Farrell has opted not to risk the 27-year-old from the start.

It means that Saturday will be another significant day in the career of Sheehan. The 27-year-old hooker has been one of Ireland’s outstanding players in recent years, while his emerging leadership status has seen him captain his country and the Lions this year, having led the tourists to victory over Western Force.

Ireland were also captained from hooker – Rory Best – in the 2016 win.

It will be a big day for Best’s former Ulster team-mate McCloskey, too. The 33-year-old started both summer wins over Georgia and Portugal, but has found run-outs with the frontline team hard to come by in the past couple of years.