New Zealand 40 Ireland 21: All Blacks ease to victory at Eden Park – as it happened

New Zealand 40 Ireland 21 (report)

Right then. We’ll leave it there for this blog. Do stay tuned for all the content from Eden Park, including Gerry Thornley’s match report, John O’Sullivan’s player ratings and a reaction podcast from Gordon D’Arcy and myself.

Enjoy the summer!

New Zealand

199 carries, 10 line breaks, 197 post contact metres, 9 turnovers lost

Ireland

124 carries, 5 line breaks, 154 post contact metres, 17 turnovers lost

Skills. Pace. Accuracy. One team had it, the other didn’t.

No bonus points for Ireland, be they for losing by seven or fewer or notching four tries.

Andy Farrell’s side had a purple patch at the start of that second half, playing with better tempo and upping the physical stakes after earlier being well off it.

Ultimately, though, New Zealand look a faster, more powerful and more skillful team. A chastening reminder for Ireland that, a year out from a World Cup, they are not at the upper echelons of the world game. New Zealand, South Africa and France are all comfortably better as things stand.

Full-time: New Zealand 40-21 Ireland

The All Blacks threaten to add another cherry on top with a counter attack score off turnover, but Clarke can’t hold onto a pass as it rolls into touch.

Ireland have been put out of their misery.

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Anton Lienert-Brown

79 mins: Game. Set. Match. Jordan ties a bow on this one beautifully, riding the tackle from Frawley, sucking in last man Baloucoune before offloading out of contact to Lienert-Brown.

He had no right to throw that pass, but somehow he does. Riding the hit before showing off his skills.

McKenzie’s conversion drifts out to the right hand side.

New Zealand 40-21 Ireland

76 mins: Some beautiful counter attack nearly ends the game for the All Blacks. Savea, Moorby and Lienert-Brown are all involved, keeping the ball alive before a chip into the Irish 22.

A hand in the ruck from a black jersey spares Ireland’s blushes. For now as an overthrown lineout suddenly has New Zealand back inside the 22.

75 mins: Oh was that Ireland’s moment? Prendergast’s cross-kick to Frawley is spot on, finding him in stride inside the 22.

One step off the right takes him past Clarke. Jordan, though, is on hand to both make the tackle and then swoop for a breakdown turnover. The support just wasn’t quick enough.

72 mins: Ireland survive. Xavier Numia is builty of a dangerous clearout close to the Irish line. At times heroic defence on the goal line.

But Prendergast misses touch with the clearing penalty. Here come New Zealand again.

70 mins: Sensational turn of speed from Caleb Clarke to bust through a tackle close to the ruck and sprint towards the 22. It was a tired, soft tackle attempt but full credit to Clarke.

The All Blacks looking to put the game to bed with a score here.

66 mins: A mistake in midfield as O’Toole spills a short pass from Aki. He had Jacobson in his face applying pressure.

TRY IRELAND - Hugo Keenan

62 mins: Replacements Timoney, Aki and Jansen add some oomph with strong carries close to the line. Then, when Prendergast goes wide, he loops a pass over the top for Keenan to score. What’s more, the outhalf then slots the touchline conversion.

One more score and this gets very interesting.

New Zealand 35-21 Ireland

61 mins: Is Quinn Tupaea lucky there? Diving forward, he sticks out a right hand to bat the ball away from Beirne who would have had space to run into. Referee Berry says he was making a genuine attempt to catch the ball, but we are going to check with the TMO if it was a deliberate knock-on.

They decided on giving a penalty but not a card. There was a line break on there but because there was one wide defender, they opt against the card. Still, there was plenty of space between Beirne and that man, he would have broken the line.

Prendergast’s touchfinder is a beauty, taking play right up towards the Kiwi line.

60 mins: More Irish changes. Aki is on for McCloskey, Clarkson for Furlong and Timoney for van der Flier.

58 mins: Ireland make a change no doubt looking for some more power. Sean Jansen is on for James Ryan. So Tadhg Beirne will move into secondrow and Jack Conan will slide across to six.

Ciarán Frawley is also back on for O’Brien, suggesting his head injury earlier did not lead to a failed HIA.

Sheehan comes up with an important breakdown turnover just shy of the Irish 22.

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Damian McKenzie

56 mins: Ireland just cannot hold out. Phase after phase, power close to the line. Eventually they go wide and despite Keenan somehow stopping Love from scoring, McKenzie follows up quickly to pick and dive over the line.

Love converts.

New Zealand 35-14 Ireland

54 mins: Ireland’s defence is good, flying into tackles and knocking back runners close to the ruck. They are much more up to the speed of the game, physically speaking, in this second half.

A penalty does come for tackler not releasing, though, allowing New Zealand kick into the corner.

51 mins: Keenan thought he had kept the ball in play, preventing a 50/22 from Barrett but his foot was on the line. New Zealand with a golden attacking platform here.

In the build-up, O’Brien was probably fortunate not to be called for tackling Love in the air. The All Black 10 is down receiving treatment. His left knee is now heavily strapped but the outhalf will continue.

49 mins: That’s poor from Prendergast. Firstly, his decision to dummy and hold onto the ball buys some space well. We’ve seen him do that before, he is very good at it.

But when he does pass, it’s high and over the head of O’Brien on the touchline.

TRY IRELAND - Joe McCarthy

45 mins: Ireland strike first in this second half to keep their comeback hopes alive.

After going close with a carry when peeling off the maul, McCarthy offers himself to carry a few phases later and barges over under the posts. Prendergast converts.

New Zealand 28-14 Ireland

44 mins: That’s so much better from Ireland. There’s pace and real intent in the carry on first phase, the ball out the back sending McCloskey into space. With quick ball, McCarthy then barges forward, and then Gibson-Park.

The attack stalls in the 22, but a penalty for playing the 9 allows Prendergast to go into the corner.

41 mins: Back underway in Eden Park. Ireland need a serious revival here, with New Zealand taking their foot off the gas. Or a combination of the two!

Ruben Love kicks off the second half and straight away the All Blacks have the ball having batted the short kick back onto their side.

New Zealand 28-7 Ireland

Of course, Jacobson’s non-red will be a talking point. It looked to be a high degree of danger with a tucked arm into van der Flier’s head. But the officials decided to keep it at yellow.

While this one will be heavily discussed, I can’t see it being influential on the result of the game. Such is New Zealand’s dominance.

Compare New Zealand’s cutting edge with Ireland’s decision making when chances have presented themselves.

Twice in that first half, Ireland could have given Baloucoune the ball with some space in front. Not quite open field, but get the fast man on the ball all the same.

Instead, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan both avoided throwing the pass, allowing New Zealand to recover on both occasions. Sums up the attacking gap between these sides at the moment, both in terms of skill and attitude to throwing that wide pass.

That was a difficult watch in many ways for Ireland. A stuttering attack has been exposed for a lack of incision. By contrast, New Zealand have played with pace, width and brutal aggression at the ruck to prevent Ireland from slowing things down.

It’s almost as if they know Ireland will make a pass before punching through the middle, so the black shirts swarm into the backfield to hit men behind the line. Just one line break and 11 turnovers so far for Ireland, compared to four All Black breaks and five turnovers.

At times, Ireland have managed to get a bit of momentum into their carry but even then that was while Jacobson was off the pitch on his yellow card.

Unless things change dramatically, Ireland are looking at a heavy defeat here.

43 mins: A late penalty will give Ireland a chance here. Vaa’i plays the nine at the back of the ruck, allowing Prendergast to kick into the corner.

The attack ends with a New Zealand turnover. Jacobson - who should or should not be out there because of his yellow that wasn’t upgraded to red - pilfers at the ruck, winning a penalty that allows the All Blacks to get the ball off the park.

Half-time: New Zealand 28-7 Ireland

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Asafo Aumua

40 mins: A powerful carry takes the replacement hooker over the line.

Love knocks over the conversion.

New Zealand 28-7 Ireland

39 mins: Watching live, it looked like Asafo Aumua had scored. Referee Berry didn’t see it, though, so play goes on.

Until the TMO intervenes. This will be a score I suspect.

38 mins: Things could get a lot worse here.

Baloucoune initially does superbly well to claim a high ball. Then looking to offload, though, he spills it forward.

Love takes the bouncing ball and kicks it in behind, his well-measured effort rolling into touch for a 50/22.

What’s more, Jacobson’s card has expired and the All Blacks are back up to 15 for this attack close to the Irish line.

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Will Jordan

35 mins: That’s as bad a try you’ll see Ireland concede. McCloskey throws a ball out the back to no one inside his own 22.

Will Jordan reacts first to the bouncing ball, scooping it up and jogging over for the score.

Nightmare stuff after just scoring to get back into the game. Love converts.

New Zealand 21-7 Ireland

TRY IRELAND - Jack Conan

33 mins: My god did Ireland need that.

A penalty at a ruck allowed Prendergast to kick the ball into the 22. From there, Ireland kick into their efficient gear close to the line. Beirne has a big carry and then Conan barges over from close range.

Prendergast converts.

New Zealand 14-7 Ireland

The news from the bunker is that Jacobson’s card will stay at yellow, not red. Mitigation has been applied. Not sure exactly what that was! Possibly that James Ryan’s back took the initial contact from Jacobson’s shoulder, reducing the impact on van der Flier’s head?

31 mins: Ireland have to be better on counter attack there.

Van der Flier sticks his head in a ruck and wins the ball. Then it goes wide. Baloucoune is in space but Ringrose dallies too long on the ball.

Moments later, Ireland get space again on that right flank but this time Keenan doesn’t feed Baloucoune the speedster. Prendergast then throws a ball into touch.

Ireland should have scored. McKenzie did well to do enough to limit the damage there, but it was a two-on-one that should have been picked off.

29 mins: The card does not lead to an uptick in Irish fortunes. Gibson-Park’s pass is poor, landing well in front of Beirne. He can’t control the bouncing ball as it rolls through his legs and into touch.

YELLOW CARD - Luke Jacobson

This will be reviewed. It was a desperate clearout to stop van der Flier from poaching the ball as New Zealand looked to score. But it’s poor work to go into a breakdown with your arm tucked like that. If you make head contact, you’re always going to be in trouble.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets upgraded to a red card.

28 mins: TMO check. This could be trouble for Ireland.

Oh wait. I thought they were checking for a penalty try as an offside tackle looked to stop Tuipulotu from scoring. But instead, we’re looking at a dangerous clearout from Jacobson, the All Black openside.

He did dive into the side of the ruck, arm tucked by his side and the shoulder makes contact with Josh van der Flier’s head.

26 mins: Ireland continue to get caught behind the gain line. O’Brien, who is back on for Aki in that HIA reversal by the way, tries to throw a pass over the onrushing Jordan but the ring rises up to bat the ball and reclaim it for the intercept.

O’Brien then gets a touch on a grubber in behind, giving New Zealand a lineout inside the 22.

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Ardie Savea

23 mins: Too easy. Pace and power from the base of the scrum as Ardie Savea powers over.

There was a huge gap in the Irish backline close to the scrum and Savea says thank you very much. That’s shambolic defending. Love converts again.

New Zealand 14-0 Ireland

21 mins: Ireland manage to strip the ball in contact but they had given up advantage for an offside. New Zealand will go for a 5m scrum.

20 mins: Ireland survive but they are bailing water.

Gibson-Park tries to clear inside the 22 but the ball had come out and New Zealand are able to force a rushed, partially blocked clearance. Going wide immediately, McKenzie almost bursts through before a long pass rolls into touch.

There was an advantage for a knock-on in the tackle so the All Blacks do have a scrum.

More bad news on the injury front. Frawley is helped off with blood gushing from a head injury. Remember he was already on for O’Brien in a HIA. Aki is now on to ensure another backline reshuffle. Ringrose will go to the wing with Aki at 13.

17 mins: Another Irish attack ends with an error, this time a forward pass.

Dan Sheehan gets involved in some afters with Ardie Savea - he’s not happy at all that Tupou Vaa’i came in and shoved him in the back while celebrating the defensive stop.

16 mins: Interesting. Lomax has come back on for Newell, when he looked to have a leg injury.

I thought only head injuries could lead to temporary replacements? Shows how much I know.

TRY NEW ZEALAND - Patrick Tuipulotu

15 mins: This was coming. Pulling Ireland from side to side, the speed, power, offloading ability, fast rucking - everything - it’s impossible for Ireland to counteract. Stretched thin, the line can’t stop a short pass to Tuipulotu who powers through Keenan to score.

Ruben Love taps over the easy conversion.

New Zealand 7-0 Ireland

13 mins: Finally, Ireland get some momentum with Gibson-Park and Keenan putting some pace into the attack with their carries.

Once in the 22, Ryan spills a straightforwad pass before Beirne plays it in an offside position.

Here we go - Ireland are making a change. Ciarán Frawley is on. Looks like it’s Jimmy O’Brien who has gone off - must be injury related.

10 mins: Another Ireland attack looks sluggish, runners struggling to find soft shoulders or break the gain line. They go to the air but New Zealand win the contest.

Fortunately for Ireland, McKenzie throws a forward pass straight into a teammate so Ireland get a scrum on the All Black 10m line.

8 mins: Another huge defensive intervention, this one from Ringrose.

Offloads cut them open but the centre scrambles well to arrive first at a ruck and win a holding-on penalty.

Ireland under plenty of early pressure. Albeit they’ve held out for now.

7 mins: Tadhg Beirne has probably just saved a try there.

Spotting the ball was out before anyone else, he sprints up to get into Roigard’s passing chanel, blocking the ball and ensuring it ends up on the Irish side as O’Brien clears.

That was needed. The All Black attack was crisp and fast, Ireland being knocked back phase after phase into their 22.

5 mins: Huge shot from Quinn Tupaea and Luke Jacobson on Ringrose. Stopping him dead on contact, they hold him up and win a scrum.

Ireland’s attack looks predictable to start, black jerseys lying in wait for every short tip-on pass. Joe McCarthy sees something he doesn’t like and starts a game of pushing and shoving but it’s nothing serious.

There’s a problem though for Lomax, the All Black tighthead. He got trapped underneath that maul as it collapsed and he’s limping off holding his thigh. He’s done for the night, Fletcher Newell coming on earlier than anticipated.

3 mins: Mistakes from both sides. Sheehan doesn’t use a brake foot at the scrum, giving away a free-kick.

New Zealand look to go quick but a chip through is blocked and then on the rebound, Jordie Barrett’s kick in behind goes dead. A frenetic start to this, if a touch low on quality.

2 mins: Ireland’s first attack of the day ends with a knock on.

After a fortnight of set-piece difficulty, they got their first lineout right, Sheehan going short to Gibson-Park before taking a return pass and thundering into midfield.

After a few phases, they look to go wide but an unsympathetic pass sees Ringrose spill on the run.

1 min: And they’re off!

The final Ireland game of the 2025/26 season is underway. Nic Berry blows his whistle and Sam Prendergast does the honours with the kick-off.

New Zealand 0-0 Ireland

Codie Taylor leads the haka. Ireland take a step forward right at the start of it - nothing too dramatic.

Pre-match pageantry done, time for some footy.

Local school choir sings the anthems in Auckland.

It’s an, ahem, interesting rendition of Ireland’s Call. Not as bad as the infamous 2023 World Cup when a young choir butchered France’s anthem ahead of the tournament’s first match.

Ah maybe I’m being harsh. Kids are never always in tune.

Just over 15 minutes to go until kick-off at Eden Park. New Zealand are 12 point favourites here - what do we reckon?

The last time these two sides met, the All Blacks won by 13 in Soldier Field last November.

Speaking of New Zealand’s unbeaten run at Eden Park, stretching to 52 games now, JOhn O’Sullivan has cast a look on the nature of the matches involved.

Is the record all it’s cracked up to be? Read more here.

Looks like a dry, clear night in Eden Park!

New Zealand have not lost at this venue since 1994. Ireland, of course, won on their last visit to Kiwi soil, securing the series 2-1, but those two victories came in Wellington.

Speaking of Howlett, his All Black try-scoring record was broken last week by Will Jordan. A man who knows what it’s like to score against Ireland, Jordan reached the 50-try mark against Italy last time out.

That took him past Howlett on 49 and into a league of his own atop the try-scoring charts for men in the black jersey. 50 tries in 56 matches for Jordan, an astonishing conversion rate of 0.89 tries per game.

Gerry Thornley is in Auckland and he’s caught up with a man who had a profound effect on both Irish and Kiwi rugby, Doug Howlett.

The former All Black record try scorer and Munster wing had plenty to say, especially when it came to his own experiences at Thomond Park and how he views the province these days after a difficult period.

You can read Gerry’s interview with Howlett here.

It’s early, I know. A good way of staying awake until kick-off? Listen to our most recent Counter Ruck podcast where we delve into everything to watch out for in this one.

Need a clever thought on Ireland’s backrow combination to send into the WhatsApp group? This has you covered.

Underdog Ireland gear up for All Blacks test

Listen | 23:52

And in the black corner...

Here are the All Blacks. Personally, I can’t wait to see how Ruben Love gets on at 10.

Jordie Barrett is a familiar face at 12, offering another playmaking outlet alongside love and Damian McKenzie at fullback.

We begin, as we always do, with a reminder of the Irish team. The good news is that Rob Baloucoune’s pesky hamstring allows him to finally make an appearance on this tour, the Ulster man back in the 14 shirt which he made his own with a stellar Six Nations.

Elsewhere it’s more or less as expected after Andy Farrell rotated for last week’s Japan game. Jimmy O’Brien getting the nod at left wing over Jamie Osborne is an interesting one perhaps, but for all his quality, I think we can say at this stage that wing is not Osborne’s top position.

Robbie Henshaw is probably unfortunate to miss out on the 23 after impressing as one of Ireland’s best players against Japan. Garry Ringrose comes back in to take the 13 shirt off him while Bundee Aki resumes his impact replacement role.

After a fortnight which has seen Ireland’s lineout struggle, Tadhg Beirne is named in the backrow as Ireland go for three locks in the run-on team with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan also featuring.

Good morning everyone.

Kudos if you’re up early enough to read this. We love a good build-up period to Ireland matches on this blog (and crucially, so does Google) so here we all are at 6am.

Nonetheless, it is a pleasure to have your company as we build up to Ireland’s clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland. Kick-off is at 8.10am Irish time.