Baloucoune back as Osborne misses out on All Blacks clash
Ireland's rugby team has finalized its squad for the upcoming Nations Championship match against New Zealand. Rob Baloucoune returns to the starting lineup, while coach Andy Farrell has made several tactical changes to the forward pack.
Why it matters
This match is a high-profile international sporting event that impacts world rugby rankings and tournament standings.
Rob Baloucoune has been passed fit to start Saturday's Nations Championship meeting with New Zealand in Auckland, with Jamie Osborne the unlucky one to miss out.
Baloucoune was named to start Ireland’s opening game of the tournament against Australia in Sydney earlier this month, but was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury on the day of the game, an issue which also kept him out of the win against Japan last week.
Jimmy O’Brien deputised for the Ulster wing in that victory over the Wallabies before retaining his place in the 14 shirt last week in Newcastle.
O’Brien was one of Ireland’s standout performers at McDonald Jones Stadium, and the Leinster wing has been rewarded for that good form with a third start in a row, named on the left wing for Saturday’s showdown with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
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