Andy Farrell has named an exciting Ireland team ahead of Wednesday's opening New Zealand tour game against the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton.
The Ireland side will be captained by Bundee Aki at the home of the Chiefs, the team with which he won a Super Rugby title in 2013.
Ireland team to play Maori All Blacks
15. Jimmy O’Brien
14. Jordan Larmour
13. James Hume
12. Bundee Aki (C)
11. Keith Earls
10. Ciaran Frawley
9. Craig Casey
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Tom O’Toole
4. Kieran Treadwell
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Cian Prendergast
7. Nick Timoney
8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements
16. Niall Scannell
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Joey Carbery
23. Michael Lowry
Maori All Blacks team to play Ireland
1. Ollie Norris
2. Kurt Eklund
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Josh Dickson
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere
6. Cameron Suafoa
7. Billy Harmon
8. Cullen Grace
9. Brad Weber (C)
10. Josh Ioane
11. Connor Garden-Bachop
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Billy Proctor
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Zarn Sullivan
Replacements:
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Tamaiti Williams
18. Jermaine Ainsley
19. Maanaki Selby-Rickit
20. TK Howden
21. TJ Perenara (C)
22. Ruben Love
23. Bailyn Sullivan
Ireland play the Maori All Blacks at 8:05am Irish time on Wednesday. The game will be live on Sky Sports.
The last time an Ireland team faced the Maori All Blacks was back in 2010 in Rotarua, with the home side emerging 31-28 victors. It's the first time that Ireland have toured New Zealand since 2012 with the All Blacks winning all three tests including a 60-0 hammering.
In more recent times it's Ireland who have had more wins over the southern hemisphere side, winning three of their last five games including a 29-20 win back in November at the Aviva stadium.
SEE ALSO: Kiwis Seem Very Upbeat About Joe Schmidt's Involvement Coaching Against Ireland
