Ireland and New Zealand have reverted to the tried and trusted for their meeting at Croke Park on Saturday. Declan Kidney, the Ireland head coach, has resisted the chance to retain the hugely promising Keith Earls at full back and has gone for the experience of his former club charges from Munster in the back row. After beating Scotland with largely a second XV last weekend, Graham Henry, the All Blacks coach, is taking no chances in Dublin and has made 11 changes to start with his strongest available side, one boasting 618 caps.

Kidney’s one surprise is the inclusion of Tomas O’Leary at scrum half at the expense of Eoin Reddan, but the ever-reliable Girvan Dempsey returns in place of Earls, whose time will surely come soon.

Alan Quinlan and David Wallace are recalled in the back row having been replacements in the 55-0 win over Canada last Saturday. Stephen Ferris and Shane Jennings, who started that match and played well, are on the bench, while John Hayes, the tight-head, and Rory Best, the hooker, replace Tony Buckley and Jerry Flannery respectively. Brian O’Driscoll will captain his country for the 50th time as Ireland seek their first victory over the All Blacks in 22 attempts.

“The changes weren’t easy because the boys did well against Canada,” Kidney said. “We have selected a team with a skill-set that gives us the best chance. New Zealand are the Tiger Woods of world rugby. This is probably the toughest time to play them.”

Only Joe Rokocoko, Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu and Ma’a Nonu remain from the All Blacks’ 32-6 victory at Murrayfield. Mils Muliaina, the full back who joined the squad this week after the birth of his first child in New Zealand, is among the changes in the backs, while the big guns of Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata and Tony Woodcock come into the pack. “They are physical up front and their tight five is just so physical at the breakdown,” Muliaina said of Ireland. “We have to be dominant in that area because it’s an instinct for them to be really physical. They do it week in, week out, whereas back home we probably chuck the ball around a bit more.”

Scotland have kept it in the family with their one enforced change for the visit of South Africa, the world champions, on Saturday. Sean Lamont, who is set to miss the rest of the autumn internationals with a hamstring injury, is replaced on the left wing by Rory, his younger brother.

Several players have knocks but are expected to be fit, among them Jim Hamilton and Nathan Hines, the locks, who missed training yesterday with ankle and wrist injuries respectively. Alasdair Strokosch, of Gloucester, has stayed with the squad as a precaution, as has Simon Webster because Thom Evans, the wing, has a stiff neck. South Africa have kept faith with the side that defeated Wales 20-15 on Saturday.

Ireland: G Dempsey (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), A Quinlan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), A Buckley (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), S Jennings (Ulster), E Reddan (Wasps), P Wallace (Ulster), K Earls (Munster).

New Zealand: M Muliaina; J Rokocoko, C Smith, M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan; A Woodcock, K Mealamu, N Tialata, B Thorn, A Williams, J Kaino, R McCaw (captain), R So'oialo. Replacements: C Flynn, J Afoa,A Boric, K Read, P Weepu, S Donald, I Toeava.