Bundee Aki comes in for the concussed Garry Ringrose as the sole Irish change ahead of their series decider with New Zealand in Wellington.
Aki, 32, captained the Irish team against the Maori All Blacks in the first game on tour, but this will be his first start in the test series having come off the bench for the first two test matches.
Ringrose was the sole Irish player to have featured in every tour game ahead of this weekend but a nasty head clash with Angus Ta’avoa, who was red-carded for his upright challenge on the Irish centre, makes him another of a number of players who will miss this Saturday with concussion.
Having won for the first time on New Zealand soil last week, Ireland are looking to make history again this Saturday by becoming the first team to win a test series in New Zealand since France in 1994.
Ireland boss Andy Farrell was relishing the chance to end that 28-year wait, and added that Ireland still had plenty in the locker for the decider.
“Everyone realises the size of the task in hand but there’s a lot of excitement in being able to deal with that,” he said.
“The best part of where we’re at is we know we can do better. Albeit we had a decent result in the last Test, hopefully our best is saved till last.
“We’ll see whether there is that much improvement needed because we’re in control as well as them.
“They’ve got a plan but it’s up to us to make sure we bring a bit of chaos to that plan. We’ve got to make sure that we put a bit of doubt in the All Blacks’ minds as the game goes.”
For more exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.
