Captain Kieran Read also back in side for game in Tokyo We are expanding our coverage of New Zealand. Please help us by supporting our independent journalismLock Brodie Retallick has returned for the All Blacks in arguably their strongest side for Saturday’s
World Cup quarter-final against
Ireland in Tokyo. The three-times world champions gave squad players and those returning from injury some game time and trialled combinations against
Canada and Namibia but were unable to field their top side against
Italy after the match was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis.
The only change to the pack that opened their campaign against
South Africa with a 23-13 victory in Yokohama was the selection of Retallick after he returned on 6 October against Namibia from two months out with a dislocated shoulder. Retallick played 30 minutes in Tokyo before being substituted to manage his playing time but was unable to get more minutes into his legs ahead of the quarter-finals when their final pool match was scrapped.