Both Wallace Sititi and Peter Lakai could miss out on the All Blacks starting XV this weekend with Dave Rennie set to make another big selection call.

New Zealand take on Ireland on Saturday looking defend their Eden Park fortress having been unbeaten at the venue since 1994.

To do that Rennie appears willing to shift Tupou Vaa’i to blindside and play Patrick Tuipulotu at lock alongside Josh Lord.

That is according to the New Zealand Herald, who have suggested that Rennie wants better ball carriers in the pack after their struggles against Italy.

It is understood that the new head coach considered playing Vaa’i on the side of the scrum for the French game, but concussion ruled him out of that encounter.

Sititi and Lakai struggles

Lakai was therefore given an opportunity at blindside flanker while Wallace Sititi took that spot against Italy, but both failed to really stake their claim for an extended run in the position.

The Herald have therefore stated that it is possible Sititi will miss out on the 23 altogether having struggled versus the Azzurri following a performance which featured several handling errors.

They cannot afford that against Ireland and Rennie could well include more hard-nosed bruisers up front as a result.

Luke Jacobson is set to continue at openside having justified his surprise inclusion in the victory over Les Bleus, while All Blacks captain Ardie Savea is a certainty at number eight.

Anton Segner is similarly seen as an option for the number six jersey after enjoying an impressive debut. The German-born back-rower, like Vaa’i, gives them a genuine lineout option and strength at close quarters.

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New Zealand’s head honcho is also weighing up the balance of his front-row as they look to “target Ireland’s scrum”, according to the Herald, with it proving to be a fallibility for the Irishmen in the Nations Championship so far.

With Andrew Porter currently injured and Tadhg Furlong getting towards his mid-30s, Andy Farrell’s men have faltered in the set-piece, but they are strong elsewhere.

Ireland’s aerial challenge

Jamison Gibson-Park, who is New Zealand-born and raised, will start at scrum-half and his kicking accuracy could challenge the All Blacks in the air.

France rarely opted for contestable box-kicks while the Azzurri couldn’t quite get it consistently right in that area, despite gaining some success from it, but Gibson-Park is usually pinpoint at the base of the ruck.

Rennie is duly considering who to pick on the left wing alongside Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie in the back three.

Injuries to Fehi Fineanganofo and Leroy Carter have reduced their options but Caleb Clarke could return to the XV after missing out on the Italy clash, while Josh Moorby impressed on debut in Wellington and is another possibility in that slot.

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