McFadden ready for new All Blacks threat

Published Friday, 22 June 2012
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Ireland's Fergus McFadden has said he's hoping to see more action when his side take on New Zealand in their third Test in Hamilton on Saturday - despite the threat posed by All Black Hosea Gear.

McFadden ready for new All Blacks threat
Ireland winger Fergus McFadden. (© Getty)

Gear has already been described as a "monster of a man" by Keith Earls, who was also surprised he'd only been capped eight times at international level.

"Every player poses their own threat and New Zealand back threes are renowned for being explosive and dangerous when given space," winger McFadden said.

"Gear will be a new challenge completely and I'm sure he is pretty up for it after getting his chance this week."
McFadden admitted he felt exposed by the pace of Julian Savea in the opening Test, but improved in the second.

"Overall, as a team, we definitely stood up to them better at the breakdown and defensively; only conceding one try," he said.

"Personally, I would have liked to have got my hands on the ball a bit more, but it was a wet night. It was one of those nights for a winger - when you do get your hands on the ball, you have to make it count."

He's hoping for further improvement from the Ireland side and the opportunity to add to his personal try count.


Ireland & New Zealand Squads

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); F McFadden (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), P Wallace (Ulster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D Tuohy (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), K McLaughlin (Leinster), S O'Brien (Leinster), P O'Mahony (Munster).
Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), D Fitzpatrick (Ulster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), C Henry (Ulster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster).

New Zealand: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, H Gear; A Cruden, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks, L Romano, S Whitelock, L Messam. S Cane, R McCaw (capt).
Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, B Retallick, A Thomson, P Weepu, B Barrett, T Ellison.

© UTV News
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