Winger Mark Telea has been left out of New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland due to a team protocol breach.
Telea, who had previously made his All Blacks debut, is replaced by Leicester Fainga’anuku. New Zealand’s head coach, Ian Foster, clarified that it was not a major breach but was serious enough to keep Telea out of the selection.
While the specifics of the breach were not disclosed, Foster emphasized the importance of team values and standards. The All Blacks have made six changes to their lineup for the quarter-final match, with the Barrett brothers, Ethan de Groot, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, and Rieko Ioane returning to the squad.
Sam Cane captains the team, aiming to avoid becoming the first All Blacks captain to lose three Tests to Ireland. Ireland previously achieved a historic 2-1 series win over New Zealand last year, but Foster emphasized that the past results would not affect the upcoming match.
The All Blacks approach the game against Ireland with the mindset of starting at 0-0 and expect a competitive encounter.
New Zealand’s Lineup:
B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Fainga’anuku; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane, Savea.
Replacements: Coles, Williams, Newell, Whitelock, Papali’i, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.
Source: BBC Sports
