Dublin (AFP) - Hugo Keenan, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, who missed the epic Ireland victory over South Africa to tie a summer series, have been recalled to the starting line-up for Friday’s blockbuster Test with New Zealand.

All three were key members of Ireland’s World Cup team last year whose dreams of winning the trophy were dashed by the All Blacks in a quarter-final thriller.

Keenan returns after the dynamic fullback took a sabbatical to play for Ireland’s sevens team at the Paris Olympics.

Hansen comes back after missing the Six Nations – which saw Ireland retain their title though miss out on repeat Grand Slams – through injury.

His Connacht teammate Aki, whose performances last year earned him a world player of the year nomination, missed the second Test against the Springboks due to a shoulder issue.

Head coach Andy Farrell said he was happy with the selection despite some like Hansen not having had a great seaosn so far and others barely having had game time.

“It’s a good side, a couple of positions there where we’ve had to pick a few lads who didn’t have much game time,” said Farrell.

“Then there are other positions where lads have had good game time and are in good form,” added the 49-year-old Englishman.

- ‘The hangover’ -

Another Connacht man, Finlay Bealham, also starts, the Australia-born prop coming in for the injured Tadhg Furlong.

“He (Furlong) had a slight hamstring strain, coming into camp, obviously he didn’t play in the last Leinster game before coming into camp,” said Farrell.

“We thought it would be something that would progress, he was rehabbing like a few of the other lads but unfortunately it’s just come (too soon) and then rather than push too hard and he’ll be out for the series, we’ll take our time and hopefully he’ll be back sooner rather than later.”

Jack Crowley has been given the nod by Farrell at fly-half despite Ciaran Frawley being the match winner in South Africa with a last gasp drop-goal in the 25-24 victory which secured a 1-1 drawn series.

Caelan Doris skippers the side, although regular captain Peter O’Mahony is on the bench and can provide an experienced helping hand to the 26-year-old should it be needed.

“He’s been excellent, he’s been himself, which is the most important part, he’s thriving in the role now,” said Farrell of the 26-year-old No 8.

“You can see that, he’s certainly walking tall.”

The Irish and All Blacks will be meeting for the fifth time in just over two years with them tied at 2-2, the Irish having recorded a historic 2-1 series victory in New Zealand in July 2022.

Farrell insisted that the World Cup quarter-final defeat was not on the team’s minds given how they rebounded by hammering France in Marseille in their Six Nations opener this year.

“We got asked straight after the World Cup about the hangover and that subject is in the past now with the Marseille game after,” he said.

“So we’ve moved on since the quarter-final, that’s for sure.”

Team (15-1)

Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (capt), Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne; James Ryan, Joe McCarthy; Finlay Bealham, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne

Coach: Andy Farrell (ENG)