Southland prop to start in World Cup quarter-final
de Groot missed the All Blacks’ final two World Cup pool games but his importance in the New Zealand setup has been highlighted through his return straight back into the starting lineup.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Sam Whitelock, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Southland’s Ethan de Groot has been whisked straight back into the All Black starting lineup for the Rugby World Cup quarter-final showdown against Ireland on Sunday morning [NZ time].
de Groot missed the All Blacks’ final two World Cup pool games but his importance in the New Zealand setup has been highlighted through to the starting lineup.
The 25-year-old loosehead prop was handed red-carded for a shoulder-first charge on a Namibian forward late in last month’s pool fixture after coming off the bench.
de Groot - who is aligned to the Blues club in Invercargill - did start in the first pool fixture against France before the red card in the next outing.
de Groot admitted that he had committed an act of foul play but maintained that the red card threshold had not been met and therefore challenged the Foul Play Review Official’s decision that the tackle was “always illegal”.
Although an independent Disciplinary Committee - chaired by Brenda Heather-Latu (Samoa), joined by former players John Langford (Australia) and Jamie Corsi (Wales) - deemed an act of foul play had occurred.
Outside Southland, de Groot’s selection isn’t the key selection talking point for the quarter-final match up against Ireland.
Leicester Fainga’anuku has been handed the start on the left wing with the All Blacks confirming he replaces incumbent No 11 Mark Telea because of a breach in team protocol.
Finlay Christie has also got the nod on the bench as the reserve halfback ahead of the inform Cam Roigard who appears to have the greater upside as an attacking force off the pine.
The quarterfinal is scheduled to kick off at 8am NZ time on Sunday morning.