Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong to miss All Blacks match

The unavailability of Tadhg Furlong exacerbates Ireland’s challenges in the front row, as hooker Dan Sheehan is already sidelined due to injury. The upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixture between Ireland and New Zealand is scheduled for Friday, 8 November, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with kick-off at 20:10 GMT. Coverage will be available via live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Ulster, and BBC Sounds, along with live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. Tadhg Furlong has been confirmed as unavailable for Ireland’s initial autumn Test match against the All Blacks this Friday. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell stated that the 31-year-old Leinster tighthead prop is experiencing a “slight hamstring strain,” and he did not confirm whether Furlong would be fit to play in the Argentina game on 15 November. Connacht’s Finlay Bealham will take his place in the Irish front row, while Ulster’s Tom O’Toole has been moved to the bench. Despite Furlong’s unavailability, Ronan Kelleher has successfully recovered from injury and will serve as the hooker in place of the injured Dan Sheehan. Caelan Doris has been appointed captain for Ireland’s autumn series and will lead the team. Peter O’Mahony, who previously captained Ireland to the Six Nations title earlier this year after Johnny Sexton’s retirement, will start on the bench. New Zealand, having defeated Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, also announced their squad on Wednesday. Although the absence of British and Irish Lions prop Furlong represents a significant setback for Ireland’s forward pack, Coach Farrell is able to welcome back several players to the backline. Full-back Hugo Keenan is back with the team following his participation with Ireland’s Olympic sevens squad, and Jamison Gibson-Park returns at scrum-half after an injury prevented him from playing in the summer Test series in South Africa. Mack Hansen, who was absent from the Six Nations and Springbok series due to a shoulder injury, will start on the right wing. Jack Crowley maintains his position at fly-half, and Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki, who were not part of the victory against South Africa in Durban, have been selected for the midfield. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan will form the second row, with Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier joining Doris in the back row. Rob Herring of Ulster, who has not played at all this season, will provide hooker cover from the bench, alongside Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, and Jamie Osborne, who have been chosen as backline replacements. Beyond Friday’s highly anticipated rematch against the All Blacks and the fixture against Argentina, Ireland is also scheduled to host Fiji and Australia as part of their autumn campaign. Mack Hansen’s most recent appearance for Ireland was in last year’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand. Ireland head coach Farrell commented, “It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side.” Farrell is set to temporarily step down from his Ireland responsibilities following the autumn matches to concentrate on leading the British and Irish Lions next year. He further added, “The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night, under lights, with a home crowd roaring us on.” The Ireland squad is as follows: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain). Replacements include: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.