Who Will Feature for the ABs against Ireland?

The All Blacks are one game away from their first unbeaten season since 1997 - Lorde was only 1 year old then and Jim Bolger was still Prime Minister.

Moreover, the All Blacks are one game away from their first perfect season since 1989 - and it will be the first in the professional season.

They face Ireland on Saturday, opponents who have come close to beating the ABs in the past but have never done so in their long history.

And given the form of the Irish recently, despite new coach, Kiwi Joe Schmidt's efforts - and the form of the ABs right now - you'd have to say that it is almost a given.

However, the ABs won't ring in the changes and field effectively a B team like they did against Japan. While there will probably be changes, enforced due to injury, they won't be significant.

Ben Smith and Kieran Read have had massive but long seasons and deserve a breather

Indeed, expect Richie McCaw to start as usual but he might very well move to number 8 to cover Kieran Read who energetic as he has been, has had a very long season and probably deserves a break. Sam Cane could come in and play at 7.

Expect some of the older All Blacks or those who have featured prominently for the ABs this season to have a break from the game or have limited roles in this game at best (thinking Dagg, Aaron & Ben Smith, Read, Retallick, Messam) given the brutality of their encounter against England last weekend - the depth of the ABs should enable them to do this easily.

As mentioned before, the All Blacks are forced to make changes due to injuries to Dan Carter and Tony Woodcock, so Aaron Cruden and Wyatt Crockett will start with Beauden Barrett and Ben Franks moving to the bench.

Finally, expect Andrew Hore to start his last ever game for the All Blacks in what will be an emotional farewell for the Maniototo legend.

My predicted lineup -
1.Wyatt Crockett
2.Andrew Hore
3.Charlie Faumuina
4.Luke Romano
5.Sam Whitelock
6.Steven Luatua
7.Sam Cane
8.Richie McCaw (captain)
9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10.Aaron Cruden
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Ryan Crotty
14.Cory Jane
15.Charles Piutau

16.Dane Coles
17.Ben Franks
18.Owen Franks
19.Jeremy Thrush
20.Kieran Read
21.TJ Perenara
22.Beauden Barrett
23.Ben Smith