All Blacks: Smith, Nonu reunited for Ireland

Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith will reunite to form the All Blacks midfield against Ireland on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

The Sonny Bill Williams experiment has been placed on the back burner for the Irish leg of the All Blacks Grand Slam rugby tour.

Head coach Graham Henry has decided to reunite his usual midfield combination of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith for Sunday's (6.15am NZT) international at the Aviva Stadium.

Williams, man-of-the-match in last weekend's 49-3 thrashing of Scotland at Murrayfield, will make an impact from the bench for the first time in his short test career.

Smith and Nonu sat out the England and Scotland victories respectively to accommodate Williams' impressive introduction to international rugby.

His education process was an undoubted success at Twickenham and particularly at Murrayfield, now the 25-year-old has to adjust to life among the reserves as the Wellington and Hurricanes duo combine for the first time since tour-opening Bledisloe Cup loss to the Wallabies in Hong Kong on October 30.

Nonu's promotion from the bench is one of five changes to a starting line-up which effortlessly stretched their unbeaten record against Scotland to 28 matches since rivalry began in 1905.

In other backline alterations Cory Jane returns from injuries sustained against Australia to replace Isaia Toeava on the right wing.

Halfback Andy Ellis starts his first test since Italy in Milan on last year's northern hemisphere tour, replacing Jimmy Cowan, who will spend a second test watching from the stands, after also being omitted from the 22-man squad that beat England 26-16.

In the pack Jerome Kaino predictably returns to the blindside flank for Liam Messam, who covers the loose trio from the bench.

Lock Tom Donnelly is in the match-day squad for the first time since Hong Kong, taking the place of Sam Whitelock.

Despite being troubled by a tight hamstring Brad Thorn has been named in the second row for what could be the dual international's 50th test cap.

Hika Elliot, who debuted against Scotland, has been retained as the starting hooker in what could be his last involvement, given the suspended Keven Mealamu will be available for the finale against Wales in Cardiff next weekend.

The test is also significant for captain Richie McCaw and fullback Mils Muliaina - they both eclipse Sean Fitzpatrick's record of 92 test appearances.

An All Black victory will also serve as the 100th test triumph of Graham Henry's coaching career.

He has overseen 76 wins and 13 losses since succeeding John Mitchell in 2004.

Henry fashioned a record of 22 wins, 13 losses and a draw during his four-year tenure with Wales (1998-2002) and a 1-2 series loss to Australia when head coach of the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

The All Black team to play Ireland in Sunday's (6.15am NZT) rugby test at Aviva Stadium:

Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Hika Elliot, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Liam Messam, Alby Mathewson, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.

- NZPA


- NZPA