The loss of the experienced Lions’ tighthead is a significant one for Andy Farrell who hands the No 3 jersey to Connacht’s Finlay Bealham, with Ulster’s Tom O’Toole covering off the bench.
Ireland’s scrum struggled on tour in South Africa and New Zealand got the majority of the big decisions in that area when the teams last met at last year’s World Cup.
Furlong’s absence compounds the loss of Dan Sheehan from the first choice Ireland front-row, although Ronan Kelleher has been declared fit to play despite hurting his ankle playing for Leinster last week and Rob Herring is on the bench having not played a minute for Ulster this season.
Bealham’s inclusion is the only change to the pack that beat South Africa in the second Test in Durban on Ireland’s last outing in July, with Joe McCarthy fit after a hamstring issue and partnering James Ryan in the second-row.
Andrew Porter and Kelleher join Bealham in the front-row, with Tadhg Beirne continuing on the blindside along with Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris.
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park are all back in a rejigged backline after missing that win against the Springboks.
Keenan returns to the full-back position having taken a break from XVs to concentrate on the Olympics, Hansen and Gibson-Park were injured and Aki was dropped for the second Test.
Robbie Henshaw started that game, but misses out on the matchday 23 against New Zealand altogether with Jamie Osborne handed the backline cover spot on the bench.
Aki partners Garry Ringrose, while Gibson-Park comes in for Conor Murray who drops to the bench ahead of Craig Casey, with Jack Crowley continuing at out-half.
Cian Healy edges closer to Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time cap record as he takes his place on the bench along with Herring and O’Toole, with Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony covering the back five as Ryan Baird and Cormac Izuchukwu miss out.
Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Osborne cover the backline positions.
New Zealand name their team later this afternoon.
Ireland (v New Zealand)
Player/Club/Province/Caps
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(21)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(60)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(57)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(33)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(16)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(35)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(66)
2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(33)
3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(42)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(12)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(64)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(52)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(64)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(43)(captain)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(40)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(131)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(13)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(81)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(107)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(118)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(6)
23. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(2
