Catch up on all the action with clips, reaction and analysis from Ireland’s victory in the third Test at Sky Stadium, Wellington.
No doubt this will be a major talking point, seeing as New Zealand scored two tries with Porter in the bin. What do you reckon? Was yellow the right call?
This was the score that halted New Zealand’s comeback. It’s a good maul from Ireland but Rob Herring peels early with plenty of work left to do. He has four - yes four - black jerseys between him and the line but somehow he manages to power his way through and ground the ball at full stretch.
This was the try of the game. Look how Savea, New Zealand’s best performer by far, takes a wide angle to draw Beirne away from the ruck. This opens up the gap on the inside and with Caelan Doris unable to get to that side in time, Will Jordan has too much space to speed through.
From there, it’s a foot race to the line between him and Johnny Sexton. We know who’s going to win that one...
New Zealand’s second try was just a simple case of missed tackles. Dan Sheehan made the initial error, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Furlong couldn’t scramble and then Akira Ioane’s footwork takes him brilliantly past Mack Hansen.
After the break, Ardie Savea almost single-handedly dragged New Zealand back into it. Initially, Ireland’s defence inside their own 22 was actually quite good. Henshaw comes flying out of the line to make a good man and ball hit on Havili, but the bounce of the ball takes it straight to Reece in space.
He’s able to carry up close to the line before Savea barges his way through both Tadhg Furlong and Beirne to reach out acrobatically over his head.
This was the pick of the lot in terms of the Irish tries. Before the clip starts, Doris made a fantastic carry through a weak tackle to get over the gain line. It was poor from New Zealand who had numbers on their feet but couldn’t make the dominant tackle.
In this clip, Porter does just enough to draw Havili which gives Sexton enough time to pick a pass, even though the All Black centre does bounce to him. Beauden Barrett has a choice to make with Aki going short and Henshaw out the back.
Pause on five seconds, you can see he makes the call to go for Henshaw and Sexton is too experienced to miss that, he hits Aki on the short line before he then feeds his centre partner with Barrett in no man’s land.
The second try came from Hugo Keenan. After Aki’s carry over the gain line, it was a good decision from Ireland to go back down the short side. It’s a three-on-three with Hansen, Keenan and Lowe numbering up against Bower, Ioane and Jordan.
However, Hansen recognises that prop Bower and his lack of speed is not a threat defensively, meaning Ioane and Jordan have to bite in. That leaves Lowe in space and Hansen finds him with a beautiful wide skip pass.
From there, it’s a case of backing the skills as Lowe draws the last man and gives the scoring pass to Keenan despite taking the big hit.
Right then, let’s recap the scores from a frantic, enthralling and ultimately victorious Irish effort. First up it was Josh van der flier’s maul effort in the opening minutes.
It was a brilliant maul that withstood the initial All Blacks shove before spinning Ioane and Whitelock out of the picture and powering their way over the line.
This is a special group. To come over here and do what they did, it won’t be done again. This is the toughest thing to do in world rugby. We came over here with task in hand and went for it. We said that it was the start of our World Cup year but I think it’s bigger than that.
— Andy Farrell reacts to his history-making group
We had four million people at home up for breakfast watching us. We wanted to do all our families here and at home proud. We’re playing against the best in the world so to come down here and do it is very special. It’s clear how much belief is in this team. It means a lot know but I know in a year’s time when the World Cup starts it won’t mean anything. We’ve learned that before, we need to keep improving.
— Johnny Sexton on the historic win
We didn’t pull out the performance we wanted to but we can’t take anything away from Ireland. They were too good for us and we’ve got some work to do. Massive respect to Ireland, they’ve come out here with a massive tour and they’ve been class. They deserve their win.
— All Black captain Sam Cane
The moment history was made.
You will not see a better game of rugby like that.
— Rob Kearney in the Sky Sports studio
We spoke at the start of the tour, it doesn’t get harder than playing New Zealand in New Zealand. We were ropey after the first week but I’m so proud of the group. We knew we had it in us, we’ve taken a lot of encouragement from the fact that all the games we lost in the last year came from us not performing. We could fix that. Playing for Ireland is what everyone strives for as a kid and you want to be a part of history.
— Josh van der Flier
“We knew the storm was coming, we knew they were going to have purple patches. We got that one chance and that’s us, we scored. The travelling support of the Irish is unmatched around the world. I can’t put into words how I feel now. ”
James Lowe’s immediate post-match reaction to the win.
Full-time: All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
Ireland have withstood a remarkable second half come back from New Zealand to join the select club of those to have secured a series victory on Kiwi soil.
IRELAND WIN THE SERIES
80 mins: Knock-on Akira Ioane! Ireland have a scrum with the clock ticking towards the 80! One clean set-piece and the game is done! The camera focuses in on Peter O’Mahony on the sideline who is in tears. The celebrations are starting early from the Irish players off the pitch.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
79 mins: Earls bursts through the line to get deep into the 22 but New Zealand get in over the ball to win the penalty! They have to get down the park quickly and it looks like Ireland have done this!
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
78 mins: Somehow Keenan recovers possession after a Barrett chip. Lowe kicks in behind and a goal-line drop is the result after Mo’unga grounds in goal. New Zealand kick quickly and Ireland take it back up to the 22.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
77 mins: Carbery comes flying up out of the line to make the interception and Henshaw boots clear. What defence this is from Ireland in the closing stages.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
Sexton is on one leg at the minute and Farrell has called him ashore. Carbery is on for the last four minutes. Beirne is also going off, he has absolutely emptied the tank in this defensive shift. Treadwell is on for him.
76 mins: New Zealand attack again inside the 22. The Ireland defence is very stretched and Murray is caught offside. The penalty is taken quickly... and Ireland have pinched it again! It’s Beirne again with the counter-ruck this time! Sexton clears to touch.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
73 mins: Beirne with another huge turnover inside the 22! Hansen was caught out of position out wide but Earls scrambled well to cover him. New Zealand have numbers on the opposite side but as they come back that way Beirne gets in over the ball. He’s unlucky not to get the penalty but Ireland can clear.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
72 mins: Seconds after relieving the pressure, Ireland will be back under the cosh after a crooked throw from Herring. New Zealand scrum inside the 10m line.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
71 mins: Penalty Ireland! A good shove at the scrum forces Savea and Fakatava under pressure and Ireland knock both back. Beirne goes in for the poach but a neck roll on him leads to a clearing penalty. What a mistake that is from the All Blacks.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
70 mins: Will Jordan again causes havoc as he carries deep into the 22. Ireland get caught offside but it holds up the New Zealand charge for now. Looks like they’ll take a scrum 5m from the line. Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham come into the frontrow ahead of this scrum.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
Bundee Aki’s day is done. Earls is on for him and slots into 13 as Henshaw moves inside to 12. Tuivasa-Sheck, the rugby league convert, is on for an All Black debut.
68 mins: Henshaw makes a crucial tackle coming up out of the line on Barrett. Mo’unga kicks away before Lowe returns the favour. More kicks are exchanged but Gibson-Park spills in the air on his own 10m line.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
67 mins: Lowe gets in a good exit with his left boot. Barrett thinks about the quick throw but opts against. NZ lineout on halfway.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
66 mins: Sexton adds the extras 15 in from touch. 15 minutes to go and Ireland have a 10-point lead.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 32
65 mins: Well it looked like Herring broke off that maul far too early but he’s broken through four black jerseys before breaking over the line. He needed to go full stretch to get the ball on the line but he’s managed to do it. What a score and boy did Ireland need that.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 30
TRY ROB HERRING
64 mins: I don’t know how Savea has not been binned there. Lowe hits through the gain line and then his ball to Keenan takes play into the 22. Aki then goes very close to the line before Savea comes and picks up the ball when it was still in the ruck. Close to the line and after a line break, that has to be a card but nothing is brandished. Ireland go to the corner.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 25
63 mins: Barnes initially missed a knock from Cane on the floor but his officials have brought his attention to it. Back we go for an Ireland scrum on the All Black 10m line. At the risk of stating the obvious, the next score is crucial.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 25
62 mins: Wow that must have been close. Jordie Barrett thought his conversion was over but the officials say it went over the top of the post. Andrew Porter is back on now along with van der Flier. Rob Herring is also on in place of Dan Sheehan.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 25
59 mins: Wow, what a pass. Sexton launches a good up and under but the Barrett’s combine to gather just short of their own 22. Savea throws a beautiful inside ball to Will Jordan and with only Sexton in the backfield, the wing has far too much gas to break away and score out wide.
All Blacks 22 Ireland 25
TRY WILL JORDAN
59 mins: My mistake, the kick is actually from a very central position right on halfway. Still, it’s a big kick and HE’S HIT THE BAR! Inches from going over as it had the direction but not the legs.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 25
58 mins: There’s Tadhg Beirne! New Zealand were getting over the gain line with a series of short carries but there’s the Munster secondrow to get over the ball and win the penalty.
Remarkably, Sexton is going to have a pop at the posts from a wide angle on halfway.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 25
56 mins: No mistake from Sexton. Ireland’s lead is out to eight points now, crucially beyond a converted try.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 25
55 mins: Same Cane has given away a penalty in front of the posts. What a big moment that is. Lowe made the initial burst before Cane got trapped in the ruck after an Aki carry. Sexton points to the sticks.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 22
Retallick and Tu’ungafasi have both failed their HIAs.
54 mins: Ireland can breathe. They nearly cough up possession off a high bomb from Smith but Whitelock then spills a simple pass. Ireland get the scrum but they have to sacrifice van der Flier to bring on Healy with Porter in the bin.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 22
52 mins: Poor defence from Ireland. Two missed tackles 10m from the line and he’s in. Sheehan the initial guilty party before van der Flier then can’t help him recover. Hansen is the last man and is stepped well. Barrett adds the extras and all of a sudden the gap is just five points.
All Blacks 17 Ireland 22
TRY AKIRA IOANE
Porter escapes red because he was absorbing the tackle rather than going in with any force. He’s very lucky. Plenty in the All Blacks camp will be asking why that’s any different to the red from last weekend.
Yellow card Andrew Porter
Porter is in trouble here. He’s made a head-on-head tackle with Retallick and it looks very similar to Tava’ao’s red card from last week.
50 mins: Ireland get their exit right before a bout of kick-tennis breaks out. Keenan nearly spills a tricky Barrett kick but does well to avoid the knock. Lowe eventually gets it off the park, finding touch on halfway.
All Blacks 10 Ireland 22
48 mins: What a read from Beirne! He’s come flying out of the line to make an interception with NZ looking dangerous with numbers out wide. The Ireland attack in response is directionless and Lowe kicks ahead. Barrett then spots space in behind and kicks brilliantly off his left to find touch just short of the Ireland 22.
All Blacks 10 Ireland 22
47 mins: Brilliant from Savea. He’s almost single-handedly keeping New Zealand in this as his work at the breakdown earns a relieving penalty.
All Blacks 10 Ireland 22
46 mins: I thought the ball was out but Barnes disagrees as Smith plays Gibson-Park with the ball still in the ruck. Sexton kicks down the line to just short of the 22. Chance for Ireland here to take the sting out of the All Blacks’ start to the half.
All Blacks 10 Ireland 22
Tu’ungafasi is gone just four minutes after coming on. He’s off for a HIA which means Laulala can come back on.
44 mins: Try is good! He had three excellent carries in that build-up and now he has gotten his side over the line, what a finish from Savea to reach out over his head. Just the start the All Blacks needed to this half. Jordie Barrett converts.
All Blacks 10 Ireland 22
43 mins: Excellent carries from Barrett and Ioane have the All Blacks 5m from the Ireland line! Henshaw makes a good read to shut down an overlap but the ball is still there with the forwards hammering away at the line. Savea is over the line but we are going upstairs to have a look.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
41 mins: We are back underway in Wellington. Barrett kicks to just short of the 22 where Ryan gathers. Gibson-Park sets up a box kick which Jordie Barrett gathers for the All Blacks. One change at the break, Laulala is gone on the NZ tighthead side, Tu’ungafasi is on for him.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
This was the pick of the lot in terms of the Irish tries. Before the clip starts, Doris made a fantastic carry through a weak tackle to get over the gain line. It was poor from New Zealand who had numbers on their feet but couldn’t make the dominant tackle.
In this clip, Porter does just enough to draw Havili which gives Sexton enough time to pick a pass, even though the All Black centre does bounce to him. Beauden Barrett has a choice to make with Aki going short and Henshaw out the back.
Pause on five seconds, you can see he makes the call to go for Henshaw and Sexton is too experienced to miss that, he hits Aki on the short line before he then feeds his centre partner with Barrett in no man’s land.
The second try came from Hugo Keenan. After Aki’s carry over the gain line, it was a good decision from Ireland to go back down the short side. It’s a three-on-three with Hansen, Keenan and Lowe numbering up against Bower, Ioane and Jordan.
However, Hansen recognises that prop Bower and his lack of speed is not a threat defensively, meaning Ioane and Jordan have to bite in. That leaves Lowe in space and Hansen finds him with a beautiful wide skip pass.
From there, it’s a case of backing the skills as Lowe draws the last man and gives the scoring pass to Keenan despite taking the big hit.
Ireland got on the board in the fourth minute through Josh van der Flier. It was a brilliant maul that withstood the initial All Blacks shove before spinning Ioane and Whitelock out of the picture and powering their way over the line.
What a half from Ireland. The All Blacks have been poor, constantly coughing up possession with errors in attack while their phase play looks aimless. In defence they have been very disconnected and Ireland have picked them apart by constantly picking the right runner.
Scott Barrett’s absence has also told at the lineout. Codie Taylor has had two throws pilfered, overthrown one and had one crooked effort.
Full credit to Ireland for taking advantage of those mistakes so ruthlessly. A 19-point lead at half-time? I don’t think even the most optimistic of Ireland fans would have predicted that. That’s a shellacking in the first half, now it’s a case of keeping the foot down and withstanding the inevitable fightback when it comes.
HALF-TIME: All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
40 mins: Codie Taylor’s throw at the lineout is not straight. Ireland have to take the scrum here but should be able to hold onto the ball and get it off the park.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
40 mins: Just as the clock goes into the red, Sam Cane wins the breakdown penalty. Ireland will have one last defensive set in this half.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
40 mins: Bundee Aki wins the turnover on the deck. Ireland look happy to play some phases here and kill the clock.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
39 mins: Just as Ireland were looking dangerous on the counter, Rieko Ioane spills in contact and Hansen clears.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
38 mins: Ireland with a killer blow just before the break! It’s a simple ball out the back to Sexton who throws the shoulder ball to Aki. He crashes through a disconnected All Blacks line before giving the last pass to Henshaw. Ireland worked that well but that was far too easy to work over the gain line. Sexton converts.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 22
TRY ROBBIE HENSHAW
36 mins: James Ryan pilfers the Kiwi lineout. Ireland immediately go wide and Keenan’s grubber into the 22 asks questions. Jordan gathers very nicely but Laulala throws possession away with a forward pass. What a chance this is for Ireland with a scrum deep inside the 22 just before half-time.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 15
35 mins: Havili tries to grubber after drawing Lowe up from the backfield but the Ireland wing blocks. New Zealand lineout on the Irish 10m line. Ireland need to hold out here before half-time.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 15
34 mins: Henshaw’s defensive work in this first half has been stellar but he got away with a tackle in the air there on Reece. Retallick spills forward but Ireland promptly cough up possession again. Hansen and Barrett exchange kicks before Keenan comes up to shut down the counter attack.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 15
32 mins: Sexton lands the penalty from 49m out! That’s a big penalty that takes Ireland 12 points clear.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 15
31 mins: Another penalty for Ireland as the All Blacks clear beyond the ball. They haven’t learned after they have done that continually during this series. Sexton opts for the long-range kick.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 12
29 mins: Sexton’s kicking boots are back on as he slots the conversion from the touch line. That’s 1000 points for Ireland for the outhalf now.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 12
28 mins: Ireland have two tries in the first half an hour! Playing with advantage off the maul, Ireland go wide with Aki going out the back to Sexton. They spot a mis-match down the short side with Lowe and Keenan there and once the ball is switched that way, Lowe’s late ball inside to Keenan sends him over in the corner.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 10
TRY HUGO KEENAN
26 mins: Penalty Ireland! Henshaw makes a good cover tackle on Ioane before van der Flier gets in over the ball to win the penalty. Ireland needed that with New Zealand building soe dangerous-looking phases.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 5
24 mins: Jordan kicks long into the 22 from inside the All Blacks half. Sexton clears but it’s not a great effort as the hosts get possession close to the 22.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 5
23 mins: The All Blacks are on the board as Jordie Barrett kicks that easy penalty.
All Blacks 3 Ireland 5
23 mins: All Blacks penalty inside the 22 as Sexton doesn’t roll away. This time Barrett can’t miss as he calls for the tee from straight in front of the posts.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
22 mins: Just like that, NZ have the ball inside the Ireland 22 after a Havili 50/22. Ireland coughed up possession at the ruck and the centre made them pay.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
21 mins: The footwork of Ireland’s forwards around the fringes is good. Sexton doesn’t get the bounce as his kick over Jordan holds up instead of rolling into touch inside the 22. Jordan clears but it’s kept in play as Sexton and then Doris run it back.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
19 mins: Gibson-Park thinks he’s spotted some space in behind but Smith reads it well and backtracks to take the kick. The All Blacks run a few phases before Jordie Barrett clears. Ireland lineout still in the All Blacks half.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
18 mins: That’s terrible decision-making from Aaron Smith. The All Blacks have the momentum at the maul but Smith doesn’t use it, allowing O’Mahony to work through onto the ball and earn the scrum.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
17 mins: Another error from the All Blacks as the lineout throw is long and Barrett spills while trying to gather. James Lowe then launches the kick downfield from a wide position, and it rolls into touch agonisingly short of the 22 for a 50/22.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
16 mins: Just for a moment, Jordan would have thought he was in. Barrett’s high bomb was good and the pressure forced Keenan into not taking it cleanly. Fortunately for Ireland, Jordan spilled it both in the air and on the floor when trying to regather.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
15 mins: Frantic stuff as Ireland kick ahead only for Smith, Ioane and Barrett to counter down the flank. The latter kicks into the 22 dangerously but Keenan covers well before launching a good clearance under pressure.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
14 mins: Plenty of early defensive work for Ireland off that scrum. They don’t overcommit to rucks and make sure their numbers in the line are good. Akira Ioane thinks about a quick pick and go but can only spill on the floor.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
12 mins: Sexton’s 22 restart is a good one that allows O’Mahony to compete. He spills forward and the All Blacks have a scrum on the Irish 10m line. First scrum of the evening. Ireland give away the free-kick for not putting down the break foot. NZ call for another scrum.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
11 mins: That’s a bad miss from Barrett. On the 10m line but straight in front of the sticks, he’s pushed it to the right.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
9 mins: Penalty All Blacks as Bundee Aki falls on his feet to slow the ball down and then Porter continues to compete on the deck when he was told to let it go. Jordie Barrett will have a shot at goal here.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
8 mins: Beirne pinches the Kiwi lineout at the tail. Gibson-Park then clears with the box, Barrett claiming well under pressure from Hansen. Smith returns the favour and it’s back on the All Blacks side as Gibson-Park can’t gather.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
7 mins: Barrett tries a cross-kick with New Zealand on the attack for the first time. Hansen knocks on in the air and then Doris is pinged for a high tackle. Barrett’s kick takes the All Blacks up towards the 22. Barrett goes for the up-and-under off first phase but Hansen takes it under pressure well and calls the mark.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
6 mins: Sexton has pulled his conversion out to the left.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
4 mins: Less than four minutes on the board and Ireland have opened the scoring! Ryan takes the lineout and the catch and drive ends with van der Flier diving over the line. Once again Ireland start very well!
All Blacks 0 Ireland 5
TRY JOSH VAN DER FLIER
3 mins: Laulala comes up with the ball at the breakdown but van der Flier was tackled off the ball after running a good decoy line. Sam Cane is the guilty party. Decision time for Ireland with the penalty inside the 22, Sexton takes the aggressive option and goes to the corner.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 0
2 mins: Just as in the other Tests, Ireland have started well. Doris makes an initial bust before quick hands from Henshaw and Porter send O’Mahony away down the flank. One more pass is needed to put Lowe over in the corner but Beauden Barrett is there to make a vital interception.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 0
1 min: Here we go! Johnny Sexton launches the kick-off long into the 22 and we are off! James Lowe makes the opening tackle, looked a bit high but play goes on. Aaron Smith immediately boxes clear. Keenan runs it back into the Kiwi half.
All Blacks 0 Ireland 0
Wayne Barnes is today’s referee and he is just seconds away from getting the action underway.
The Haka is done. Challenge well and truly set, gauntlet thrown. You can guess how Peter O’Mahony looked while watching on...
Just under five minutes until kick-off then. How are our predictions looking? New Zealand are favourites, are they right to be? Get in touch on twitter @nathanrjohns to let me know.
As for Ireland, they make just one change to the starting line-up that won last week, two to the 23 overall. As expected, Garry Ringrose failed his HIA following the high shot that earned Angus Tava’ao a red card, so he misses out. Bundee Aki is promoted from the bench after impressing in his stead while Keith Earls beats out Jordan Larmour to the 23 shirt.
Peter O’Mahony is fit after passing his after-the-fact HIAs while Johnny Sexton’s knee injury was not significant enough to rule him out.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Keith Earls.
What about the teams then? Let’s start with the All Blacks.
Ian Foster has been forced into a number of late changes to the side he originally named earlier this week. Scott Barrett has failed his race against time to be fit, meaning Akira Ioane is promoted to the backrow from the bench and Tupou Vaa’i comes onto the bench. Also among the replacements, loosehead Aidan Ross drops out in favour of Karl Tui’inukuafe.
Prior to those late changes, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, David Havili and Will Jordan had all been restored to the starting line-up.
NEW ZEALAND: Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Reiko Ioane, David Havili, Sevu Reece; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; George Bower, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Akira Ioane, Sam Cane (capt), Ardie Savea.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Karl Tui’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tupou Vaa’i, Dalton Papalii, Folau Fakatava, Richie Mo’unga, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
In winning a Test and then defeating the New Zealand Maori this has become Ireland’s most successful tour of all time. Ireland now hope to emulate England (2003), South Africa (2019) and Australia (1991 and 1999,) who all defeated New Zealand in Aotearoa in the years immediately prior to their World Cup successes.
Matt Williams goes one step further in equating Ireland to all the sides that beat New Zealand on Kiwi soil one year before going on to World Cup success. Clearly, there are plenty of people on this island hoping that Ireland too can join that club.
Beginning with their pivotal 24-21 defeat by the British & Irish Lions in the second Test, the All Blacks have won just one of their last five Tests in Sky Stadium, against France in June 2017.
Wellington is not the same fortress for the All Blacks that Eden Park is. Gerry Thornley looks at their recent record there as he previews this morning’s clash.
[ Ireland hoping to exploit New Zealand’s Wellington weaknessOpens in new window ]
It’s difficult to remember an occasion as big as this for Irish rugby. Andy Farrell’s side has gone from the doldrums of an error-strewn first Test shellacking to a stellar performance to level the series all in the space of just a week.
Was that second Test victory simply down to the All Blacks’ ill-discipline and the multiple cards they were shown? Can Ireland string two back-to-back winning performances together? The All Blacks have their backs to the wall and their coach Ian Foster is likely fighting for his job, will that bring out the best in them?
