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Ireland release players after NZ triumph

Ireland are set to ring the changes to face the United States following their historic win over the All Blacks.

Ireland celebrate beating New Zealand.
Ireland are set to rest some of their key stars after their historic win over the All Blacks. (AAP)

Ireland have released six players who featured in Saturday's historic win over world champions New Zealand to go back and play for their provincial sides, despite a last test of the year against the United States on Saturday.

Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Jack McGrath and James Ryan are all available to play in the PRO-14 competition which resumes at the weekend, the Irish Rugby Football Union said on Monday.

Loose forward Peter O'Mahony, named man of the match after Ireland beat the All Blacks 16-9 for a first-ever triumph over the Kiwis on home soil, will have his training load managed this week after suffering a dead leg on Saturday.

Dan Leavy is ruled out, however, with a neck strain and returns to Leinster for further medical treatment.

Leavy had been named to play against the All Blacks but was then taken out of the team on the eve of the game because of fatigue.

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Ireland are expected to make wholesale changes for the test against the Americans when coach Joe Schmidt names his team on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Iain Henderson believes that Ireland's stunning victory over the All Blacks has given the reigning Six Nations champions "reassurance."

Ireland backed up their win against the All Blacks in Chicago two years ago with an outstanding display in Dublin.

And it underlined Ireland's status as major World Cup contenders in Japan next year, with the win being accompanied by a stirring defensive effort that kept New Zealand without a try.

"Having never beaten them in Dublin, it was in the back of our minds," said lock Henderson, who went on as a second half replacement.

"To overcome that was the most satisfying thing in my mind.

"People might say 'okay, they won in Chicago, it was a one-off, almost'. But to be able to back it up again shows that we are still learning, still getting better and learning from past performances.

"Being able to beat New Zealand again gives us reassurance that we are continuing to better ourselves."


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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