All Blacks coach Ian Foster has removed winger Mark Telea for a disciplinary offense and replaced him with Leicester Fainga’anuku for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Ireland. Telea was the first choice left winger at the start of the tournament and scored two tries in the opening defeat to France and another in the 96-17 thrashing of Italy in New Zealand’s third group match. Zeeland.

“This was a breach of protocol,” Foster said. It’s nothing serious, but it’s enough for him not to be selected this week. We still like him and he’s training well, so let’s see what happens.”

“That’s how it is,” he added. “For us, it’s pretty clear, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. We faced the situation as a team and moved forward. We believe in what we represent. And I think the fact that we’re ready to make that kind of decision in that kind of week says a lot about the team.”

In New Zealand’s final group match against Uruguay, Foster put his faith in Fainga’anuku and the powerful winger responded with a hat-trick while showing his versatility by finishing the game in the crosses. Foster said the All Blacks were fully prepared to face the world’s number one team on Saturday and that defeat to the Irish in a home Test series last year would mean nothing come kick-off time. sent to the Stade de France.

“This team is ready,” he said. If you look at this year, it’s about preparing for a World Cup and making sure we’re ready to perform at that stage of the tournament. We’re excited about the challenge, we know Ireland’s qualities and they deserve all the praise, but qualifying rugby is the one that’s best on the day.”