New Zealand boss Scott Robertson says Tadhg Furlong's absence from Ireland's squad this week presents "some opportunities" for his side in Friday night's Test at Aviva Stadium.
Both head coaches named their matchday squads this afternoon ahead of Friday night, with Furlong missing out for Ireland due to a hamstring injury, replaced at tighthead by Finlay Bealham in the starting side.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has made two changes to his team following last week's win against England at Twickenham, with Damian McKenzie and Asafo Aumua coming into the starting team to replace Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor, both of whom are out with concussion.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday evening, Robertson was asked if Furlong's absence "changes anything" for his side's preparation, and while coach recognised he was walking into a trap, he still provided a straight answer.
"Yeah, of course it does, that's a leading question. He’s world class so we see some opportunities in it, yeah," he said of Ireland's front row situation.
The scrum has the potential to be one of the most interesting areas of Friday night's game.
When the sides last met at the Rugby World Cup in 2023, Ireland were penalised three times by referee Wayne Barnes, with Andrew Porter and members of the Irish coaching staff on record about how they felt hard done by.
On the night, Porter was scrummaging against Tyrel Lomax, who packs down again at tighthead for the All Blacks on Friday, and the Hurricanes prop remained diplomatic when asked for his version of events in the scrums at Stade de France last year.
"Yeah, obviously they'll feel pretty hard done by, I certainly do every time I get penalised," Lomax said.
"I think it will be a big battle this weekend in the scrum and maul, they've got a really good maul. I think Tadhg is out but Finlay Bealham comes in to start and he's a good player as well, so there'll be a battle there.
"[Ireland's scrum is] strong and stable, as strong and stable as you'd get from a northern hemisphere side, I'd say. They're up for a good hit, for a good second shove, so we're looking forward to it."
The scrum was also New Zealand's avenue to get back into the game against England, as they got on top against Fin Baxter, Theo Dan and Dan Cole to win two penalties, while they also put their scrum on their back foot in the final play of the game, leading up to the late missed drop-goal.
And Lomax says while the replacements fronted up at Twickenham last Saturday, he and his fellow starters have to show more at the set-piece.
"We've definitely got a little bit more left in us," he added.
"I thought the way the bench came on and changed the game in the scrum [last week] was awesome. As starters, laying a good platform for the backs and trying to assert a bit of dominance early will be key."
His head coach has designs on weaponising the scrum at the Aviva on Saturday.
While Aumua has come in at hooker, Robertson has resisted the urge to put Ethan de Groot straight back into his squad, after the Highlanders loosehead had been left out of last week's game following a break of team protocols.
Tamatai Williams continues at loosehead, and Robertson is putting faith in his starters to have a go at Ireland's set-piece.
"At times we would have looked to eke out a couple more penalties to be honest with you, and use it a bit more as a weapon," the 50-year-old said of his side's scrummaging this year.
"We put a lot of time into that and probably could have got a little bit more reward.
"We probably could have adapted a little better, adapted to the ref as well, a couple of times.
"We showed some really good pictures and I'm not looking to say that we haven't, but we probably could have got a couple more advantages out of it, penalty advantages."
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