DUBLIN (AP) — Injured tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong has been replaced by Finlay Bealham in the Ireland side facing New Zealand in the autumn test on Friday.
Furlong, a two-tour Lion, carried a hamstring strain into their training camp in Portugal and it hasn't healed.
“We'll take our time and hopefully he's back sooner rather than later,” coach Andy Farrell said on Wednesday.
Bealham has backup from Tom O'Toole.
Ireland was already shorn of another first-choice front-rower, hooker Dan Sheehan, but was boosted by Ronan Kelleher passing fit after an ankle issue a month ago put his availability in doubt. Rob Herring was the reserve hooker despite not having played since July.
Bealham was the only change to the pack which started against South Africa in Durban in July and upset the Springboks 25-24 to level the series. That was Ireland's last test.
No. 8 Caelan Doris continues as captain.
Backs Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan have come in after missing that tour. Gibson-Park and Hansen were injured while Keenan was with Ireland sevens preparing for the Paris Olympics.
Hansen hasn't played for Ireland since the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal defeat to New Zealand a year ago in Paris because of a shoulder injury.
Inside center Bundee Aki was also back after being dropped for the second Springboks test.
The reserves include three centurions — Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray — and lock Iain Henderson, a two-tour Lion who missed the South Africa series.
O'Mahony confirmed his fitness from a hamstring injury only last weekend in a 40-minute shift for Munster against the All Blacks XV.
The backline cover included rookies Ciaran Frawley, who kicked two late winning drop goals in Durban, and Jamie Osborne.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks made two enforced changes after hooker Codie Taylor and flyhalf Beauden Barrett were concussed in the 24-22 win over England last Saturday at Twickenham.
As expected, Asafo Aumua starts after replacing Taylor in the first five minutes, and Damian McKenzie has the No. 10 jersey again after starting there in nine of 11 tests this year.
Hooker George Bell could make his third appearance off the bench and utility back Stephen Perofeta his seventh.
Ethan de Groot, their main loosehead this year, missed out again. He wasn't picked against England due to breaching unspecified team protocols but the All Blacks said he'd be available to play Ireland.
Lineups:
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand: Will Jordan, Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
New Zealand's Damian McKenzie attempts to break a tackle during a rugby test match between the All Blacks and Japan at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
New Zealand's Asafo Aumua takes part in a team run at The Lensbury Resort, Teddington, England, Friday Nov. 1, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)
FILE - South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit, left, battles for the ball with Ireland's Cian Healy, second from right, and his teammate, Finlay Bealham, during a rugby test match between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban, South Africa, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Boston College teammates James Hagens and Ryan Leonard each scored twice and the defending champion United States routed Switzerland 7-2 on Thursday in the world junior hockey quarterfinals.
Boston University's Brandon Svoboda, Notre Dame's Danny Nelson and Denver's Zeev Buium also scored, Hampton Slukynsky of Western Michigan made 17 saves and BC’s Gabe Perreault had three assists.
“I thought we played a good back and forth game with them, got pucks behind them and went to work,” Svoboda said. “We’re a fast team, and when we play like that, we’re hard to beat. We’re watching video every day, and if we can keep improving little things then we’ll continue to be successful.”
The Group A champion Americans awaited the late quarterfinal between Canada and Czechia at Canadian Tire Centre to learn their semifinal opponent.
“Overall, I thought we were ready to play and did what we needed to do against a good opponent in Switzerland,” said U.S. coach David Carle of Denver. “We’ll get ready now for the semifinals and look forward to the challenge in front of us.”
Nils Rhyn and Andro Kaderli scored for Switzerland.
In the other quarterfinals at TD Place, Group B winner Sweden beat Latvia 3-2, and Finland topped Slovakia 5-3.
David Edstrom, Zeb Forsfjall and Anton Wahlberg scored for Sweden. Jesse Nurmi had two goals and an assist for Finland, a 4-3 overtime winner over the United States in group play.
In the relegation game, Maxim Schafer scored twice to help Germany beat Kazakhstan 4-3. Germany secured a spot next season in the tournament, while Kazakhstan was demoted to the Division I Group A tournament.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Finland forward Rasmus Kumpulainen (18) celebrates his goal with teammates Benjamin Rautianen (37) and Konsta Helenius (19) during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Slovakia goaltender Samuel Urban (30) makes a save from a shot by Finland forward Julius Miettinen (27) during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland goaltender Noa Vali (31) makes a save during first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match against Slovakia in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Arttu Alasiurua (29) falls to the ice as Slovakia forward Frantisek Dej (22) and teammate Roman Kukumberg (16) battle for the puck during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Jesse Nurmi (24) celebrates his goal with teammates Mitja Jokinen (2) and Daniel Nieminen (7) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match against Slovakia in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Latvia defenseman Krisjanis Sarts (2) takes a shot on Team Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (25) tries to score on Team Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) as Latvia forward Davis Livsics (7) and defenseman Darels Uljanskis (15) defend during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) celebrates his team's win over Team Latvia with defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (4) and forward Felix Unger Sorum (16) after an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Brandon Svoboda (8) celebrates his goal with forward Austin Burnevik (23) and forward Max Plante (22) as Switzerland goaltender Christian Kirsch (1) looks on during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA defenseman Logan Hensler (3) reacts as he blocks a shot with his body during second period of a quarterfinal match against Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Brandon Svoboda, left, checks Switzerland forward Simon Meier (27) as USA forward Max Plante (22) skates with the puck during the third period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (30) stretches prior to the start of the third period of a quarterfinal match against Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Ryan Leonard (9) moves towards the net as Switzerland goaltender Christian Kirsch (1) keeps an eye on the puck and defenseman Nils Rhyn (14) defends the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Danny Nelson (17) celebrates his goal as Switzerland forward Kimo Gruber (12) skates by during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
