All Blacks vs Ireland

Kingsland pubs are gearing up in preparation for tonight's game between New Zealand and Ireland. They're expecting 3- to 4-times the usual business, ...

The PR team also ask — quite reasonably — that anyone attending the game be nice to the staff. Two former world players of the year, Beauden Barrett and Johnny Sexton, are running the show. And Covid-19 went through their coaching staff quicker than a group of QAnon nutters in the crowd at a Donald Trump rally. Nope. Ireland are a real-deal team — and tonight's first test is their best chance to break down another barrier, beating the All Blacks at home. Some players will have to double-up between midweek matches against the Māori All Blacks and the Saturday tests — there are three on the bench tonight (Conor Murray, Joey Carberry and Bundee Aki) who featured in Wednesday's defeat to the Māori. There are 120 trains and buses running to the venue for free. They've won three of the past five matches between these two sides, never having claimed an All Black scalp prior to 2016. Englishman Karl Dickson is the referee. The good folk in the Eden Park PR team tell us they're expecting to sell 6500 punnets of hot chips and 2000 boxes of donuts. If the All Blacks win all three matches, the series is no big deal. Lose one, and we'll shift nervously in our seats. So, there will be many tea leaves to sift after this series.

Getting the better of Ian Foster's troops at Eden Park will be a mammoth task however, as the All Blacks haven't lost at the Auckland ground - to any opponent - ...

Most of this side have beaten the All Blacks, some more than once, and there are a number who will have fond memories of the Lions’ tour here in 2017. “To be fair, we’ve had two years like this in some ways, it just happens to be me and a couple of coaches this week. A lot of kudos goes to Ireland for making sure this series will be an outstanding one.” Rebecca Nelson has the duties of belting out “Ireland’s Call”, joined by the Irish players and a relatively healthy smattering of green jerseys up in the stands. We know the challenge in front of us, but are excited at the same time. They also have some inside knowledge, with ex-Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on their coaching staff, after the native Kiwi was drafted in at short notice to fill holes left by Covid-19 isolations.

6:30pm: Winger Leicester Fainga'anuku has been named to make his test debut as part of a Covid-hit All Blacks team in Saturday's first rugby test against ...

The ball is moved quickly to the right, Jordie Barrett chips one through but there's a bit too much on it and it goes out. They get the ball rolling and into the 22 they go with the forwards. The sides trade kicks until the All Blacks win the duel with Beauden Barrett running it back over halfway. Barrett kicks for touch and it's an All Blacks lineout 10m inside the Irish half. NZL TRY! SEVU REECE GOES THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD! After coughing up the ball at the lineout, the Irish get back on the attack and start working towards the All Blacks line. All Blacks scrum 30m from the Irish line. Ireland with a lineout 35m from the All Blacks line now. Smith slips as he looks to make the clearing kick and the Irish are back on the attack. Superb read from Barrett and even better timing on the run from Tupaea. All Blacks on fire! It was all Ireland early on in this match but following Sexton's departure for an HIA check, the All Blacks saw a bit of discord from the Irish and they have capitalised BIG time. NZL TRY! The All Blacks make the turnover at the ruck after the lineout and immediately they strike! No one around him but the fullback so he chips over him and the chase is on to the line!

It's a smorgasbord for fans of the game they play in heaven as the All Blacks host Ireland before we head to Perth for the first Test between Australia and ...

The conversion is good. Ireland have kicked more though (11 kicks to nine). All Blacks win a penalty but lose the lineout The All Blacks win a scrum penalty while camped down their own end. Ireland also lack a bit of polish at the lineout. Ireland attempt a sharp set play down the left wing from the back of a scrum but there’s a knock-on. A massive 20-minute period here from the All Blacks just before half-time to take all the momentum. New Zealand hit the lead. Try is set up by a nice palm from Sevu Reece and a bit of a break down the left edge from Leicester Fainga’anuku. Ireland cough the ball up before All Blacks winger Sevu Reece scoops on a loose ball. Can the All Blacks rack up a cricket score? New Zealand have the momentum

Minute-by-minute report: A blockbuster first Test at Eden Park awaits. Join Luke McLaughlin for all the latest.

Hugo Keenan initially miscontrols a ball in the Ireland 22, but manages to tidy up and give it to Sexton. New Zealand run it from this next possession. That’s serves as a reminder that since the first couple of minutes, it’s been all Ireland. Just before that Sexton tried a brave chip and chase in the Ireland half. Everything and nothing, but mainly everything, both as a milestone on their journey to next year’s World Cup, and in itself as one of rugby union’s great achievements. He’s brought down, and Peter O’Mahony snatches the ball out of the ruck, making the New Zealand No 9 Smith look a little silly. In the perennial struggle between domestic sport and international, more exquisitely poised in rugby than anywhere else, this weekend marks the opening of the latest window for the international game to set out its stall. 19 min: New Zealand enjoy a bit of front-foot ball and move towards the Ireland 22. He can’t gather the ball himself but manages to bat the ball to the right - a couple of Ireland defenders rush past the bouncing ball, and Savea flops on it to score. Barrett nails the kick for the extras. 26 min: Ireland have played most of the rugby but find themselves behind ... Sexton will be annoyed he missed that conversion and that’s putting it lightly. After a hugely accomplished start, a couple of moments of carelessness have let the hosts back in. Ireland’s defence isn’t set, Beauden Barrett nudges a nice grubber kick towards the posts, and Tupaea calmly waits for it to bobble up before gathering and touching down. If Ireland can start the second half like they started the first, though, there could still be a game on in the second half.

Ireland are aiming for a first-ever victory in New Zealand in Auckland. The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since 1994.

— — — — 50 mins from kickoff: If you're an Ireland fan, the historical omens aren't good, with no win ever in a New Zealand Test and the All Blacks not losing at Eden Park since 1994. Anthems and the haka. There's a break in play before a scrum on the Irish 10-metre line and the All Blacks have a bit of a conflab. Scrum just outside the visitors' 22 and they have the put-in. 5th minute: Ireland venture into the New Zealand 22 and they're battering a path through! 14th minute: Big scrum from New Zealand on and Ireland put-in. Ireland keep the move going, back inside and into the 22. Jordie Barrett goes three from three from the tee.

Tries by Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece and Quinn Tupaea have the hosts up 21-5 at Eden Park, while the visiting side lose captain Johnny Sexton to a head ...

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. The big questions facing the All Blacks ahead of Ireland test * The big questions facing the All Blacks ahead of test against Ireland * Time for embattled All Blacks forwards to stand up to the Ireland pressure test

The All Blacks will host Ireland in the first Test in a three-match series at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, 2 July.

ENTER NOW & WIN James Lowe was one of three Irishmen to score in two Six Nations games for the team earlier this season and was also a try-scorer in the previous meeting. The All Blacks will host Ireland in the first Test in a three-match series at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, 2 July.

The Haka will then, of course, follow. 7:59AM. And now the All Blacks.

He undoubtedly will have given unique insight to the New Zealand camp but it seems unlikely that will make up for a week of disruption. Do not kick loosely to the All Blacks! The ball is run back, Ioane carrying the ball up to the Irish 22. Ireland win their ball, Doris carries from the back of the maul before it is cleared long. Iain Henderson is also unavailable with an injury that has ruled him out of the tour. The prop then added Wales and Twickenham to his son's middle names. Ireland go through the phases, slowly making ground before Sheehan busts a tackle, taking them to five metres out. With penalty advantage, the ball comes out the back and Earls darts back inside to fight his way over the line. Ireland maul before Sheehan sneaks down the blindside. It was a lovely pass from Keenan to free the Munster winger. New Zealand regather a kick following the line-out. Ireland clear the restart via Sexton. Reece runs it back. The kicking exchange ends with a good touch by Lowe.

After a slow start, the All Blacks have broken the hearts of Ireland by four unanswered tries to take a 28-5 lead into half time at Eden Park. LIVE MATCH CENTRE ...

Two more tries in the five minutes leading up to half-time saw the All Blacks break free, as Quinn Tupaea and Ardie Savea scored. Follow all the live action in our blog below! In the process, Johnny Sexton was forced from the field after a head knock.

Live coverage of New Zealand vs. Ireland from Eden Park. Keith Earls' sixth-minute try gave Ireland an early lead against the All Blacks before Jordie ...

There's a break in play before a scrum on the Irish 10-metre line and the All Blacks have a bit of a conflab. 50 mins from kickoff: If you're an Ireland fan, the historical omens aren't good, with no win ever in a New Zealand Test and the All Blacks not losing at Eden Park since 1994. 5th minute: Ireland venture into the New Zealand 22 and they're battering a path through! Scrum just outside the visitors' 22 and they have the put-in. 14th minute: Big scrum from New Zealand on and Ireland put-in. 58th minute: Aki is on for Ireland and immediately trying to punch holes in the All Blacks defence as Ireland enjoy a spell under the posts. Ireland keep the move going, back inside and into the 22. Faingaanuku tears away down the left and Ireland just manage to hold him up before the line. Savea has his second of the night but a lot of the credit goes to Smith's immaculate pass that left the Ireland defence scrambling. Jordie Barrett goes three from three from the tee. 63rd minute: More territory for Ireland but New Zealand hang tough and get the scrum. They work possession all the way across to the left.

The All Blacks will be eager to start with a bang as they begin their series against Ireland.

ALL BLACKS v IRELAND TEAMS ALL BLACKS 42 Catch the All Blacks face Ireland LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sports Trial Now

All Blacks beat Ireland 42-19 on back of emphatic finish to first half at Eden Park.

The All Blacks overcame some early struggles to notch an important win at the end of a chaotic week, while Ireland will now do well to get something out of this series, with the second test in Dunedin next Saturday. Three All Blacks tries in the final 10 minutes of the first period left Ireland reeling at the break, especially as they also lost five-eighth Jonathan Sexton when he failed a HIA. The All Blacks overcame a slow start to beat Ireland 42-19 in Auckland on Saturday night on the back of a strong finish to the first half.

How did the All Blacks rate in the first game of their three-match series with Ireland?

On in 55th minute. On in 63rd minute. Off in 63rd minute. Off in 60th minute. Knocked the ball on with his first touch but got over the line from the back of a dominant scrum to mark a memorable debut. Bit in on James Lowe, leaving Ringrose unmarked on the outer edges for Ireland’s second score, and was then pinged at the very next kick-off for getting stuck in the breakdown. Featured prominently in the first half but had less to do in the second. Didn’t shirk his defensive duties and reinforced his spot in the starting line-up. Grabbed a breakdown turnover in the 67th minute and put pressure on the Irish lineout. Had a ding-dong battle with Andrew Porter at scrum time but drew first and second blood in the penalty stakes. Off in 55th minute. Industrious on defence and a regular carrier of the ball.

Full lineups now available in the 'Lineups' tab above. TEAM NEWS: Ireland - Andy Farrell has opted for experience in his starting XV for the opening test of ...

Nope. Ireland are a real-deal team — and tonight's first test is their best chance to break down another barrier, beating the All Blacks at home. They've won three of the past five matches between these two sides, never having claimed an All Black scalp prior to 2016. If the All Blacks win all three matches, the series is no big deal.

Ireland are aiming for a first-ever victory in New Zealand in Auckland. The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since 1994.

— — — — 50 mins from kickoff: If you're an Ireland fan, the historical omens aren't good, with no win ever in a New Zealand Test and the All Blacks not losing at Eden Park since 1994. Anthems and the haka. There's a break in play before a scrum on the Irish 10-metre line and the All Blacks have a bit of a conflab. Scrum just outside the visitors' 22 and they have the put-in. 5th minute: Ireland venture into the New Zealand 22 and they're battering a path through! 14th minute: Big scrum from New Zealand on and Ireland put-in. Ireland keep the move going, back inside and into the 22. Jordie Barrett goes three from three from the tee.

Behind their pack, Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett were imperious, and the All Blacks also protected their try line with more ferocity, holding up Irish players ...

New Zealand ticked the boxes they needed to secure the win. His first try just before half-time ensured that the All Blacks didn't merely avenge their beating in Dublin but that they effectively stopped their opponents a long way inside the distance. In that dreaded scenario, the walls would have caved in. A repeat of the Hamilton horror show from a decade ago was on the cards, so Ireland will rightly take some encouragement from their second-half display. That, in itself, is a positive because if it wasn't for that second-half battling display everyone would be just counting the days to getting home. Ireland have made progress in the last two and a half years, as evidenced by a dozen wins in their previous 13 Tests going into this match.