{"id":555417,"date":"2026-07-18T03:03:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T03:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/555417\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T03:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T03:03:17","slug":"ireland-braced-for-rugbys-toughest-test-in-auckland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/555417\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland braced for rugby’s toughest Test in Auckland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just over eight months on from starting the international season against New Zealand, Ireland finish it against the same opposition.<\/p>\n

The All Blacks have bookended this 12-game campaign for Andy Farrell’s side. The hope is that this renewal will be considerably different to their meeting in Chicago in November.<\/p>\n

It’s fair to say the 2025\/26 season started in underwhelming fashion for Ireland.<\/p>\n

Talk of a British and Irish Lions hangover was dismissed out of hand eight months ago, but the results and performances begged to differ.<\/p>\n

They were going through a delayed post-World Cup funk in 2025, but to their credit there has been a renewed energy to them in 2026.<\/p>\n

It could be that their heavy defeat to France at the start of the Six Nations was the wake-up call they needed. Farrell’s comments after that game about his side lacking “intent” got the desired response, and their performances grew week-on-week.<\/p>\n

It may be fickle to suggest, but this final Test of the season will decide how we remember Ireland’s campaign, and dictate the mood heading into a World Cup year.<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Ireland made history by beating the All Blacks in New Zealand for the very first time with a stunning 23-12 win in Dunedin. A week later they beat them for the second time in Wellington to claim a famous come-from-behind Test series win.<\/p>\n

This week is just a once off, but there’s a case to be made that a win on Saturday would eclipse the series four years ago.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIreland produced a sensational Test series win in New Zealand in 2022<\/p>\n

So much has been made of New Zealand’s record at Eden Park that you’d wonder if they are better off getting their defeat out of the way so they no longer have to talk about it.<\/p>\n

Unbeaten in 52 games across 32 years in Auckland, rugby was still an amateur game when the All Blacks last lost in this city.<\/p>\n

When Ireland won that Test series four years ago, Andy Farrell was picking his side from a full deck, but this tour and this season has seen the Ireland head coach constantly having to mix and match due to injury.<\/p>\n

It’s worth noting the players who haven’t travelled on this tour due to injury; Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird, Andrew Porter, Jack Crowley, Tommy O’Brien, Mack Hansen and Paddy McCarthy would almost certainly be in this week’s matchday squad if fit, while James Lowe is now out of the international picture after leaving Leinster for Japan.<\/p>\n

From an injury point of view, this has probably been the most difficult season Farrell has had to endure since becoming head coach, and the number of players who have had gametime across the last 11 matches should stand to the team down the line.<\/p>\n

\"15
\nRob Baloucoune (l) and Jimmy O’Brien (r) start on the wings for Irelamd<\/p>\n

At the start of the season, who would have predicted Rob Baloucoune and Jimmy O’Brien would have been the starting wingers to face the All Blacks in Auckland? Who would have predicted Tom O’Toole to be packing down at loosehead prop for all three summer Tests? And who would have predicted international debuts for Sean Jansen, Sam Illo, Billy Bohan or Bryn Ward?<\/p>\n

There has been a refreshing honesty to the way both head coaches have spoken in the build-up to this game.<\/p>\n

While behind the scenes there will obviously be a huge emphasis on the finer details, Farrell has used his media engagements this week to embrace the occasion and the challenge of what lies ahead, speaking in emotive terms about what it would mean to beat the unbeaten.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, there hasn’t been one utterance of the Nations Championship table. This new format was designed to give a greater meaning and structure to what previously were one off games or series, and it may well prove to be a great success. The lesson of this week’s build-up, however, is that standalone Tests haven’t lost any of their prestige.<\/p>\n

Over in the New Zealand camp, All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie had no issues detailing how his side are approaching this game.<\/p>\n

It was obvious enough from their team selection anyway, moving Tupou Vaa’i back to flanker and bringing in Josh Lord and Patrick Tuipulotu to the second row, but Rennie said we can expect his side to have a more direct approach compared to their wins against France and Italy, where they moved the ball wide early and played off the cuff.<\/p>\n

\"17<\/p>\n

Even if they try to go through – rather than around – Ireland on Saturday, Farrell (above) still expects New Zealand to employ the usual principles of a Rennie-coached side.<\/p>\n

“I’ve obviously followed Dave’s career, a very impressive one at that, and understand fully how his sides like to play,” Farrell said this week.<\/p>\n

“We’ve seen that with the Chiefs, and certainly saw it in Glasgow, the effect that he had, and obviously being successful in Japan just shows.<\/p>\n

“And I also thought he did a fantastic job in Australia as well. So, I think the style of rugby suits the DNA of how New Zealand as a rugby playing nation want to play, and he’s brought a bit of steel back to them as well. So, it certainly makes them very dangerous on Saturday.”<\/p>\n

For Ireland, their chances of winning in Auckland hinge on the lineout.<\/p>\n

In their 2024 and 2025 defeats to New Zealand, Ireland operated at 70% and 69% respectively on their own throw, and it’s no surprise that they could score just 13 points in each game.<\/p>\n

Across these two Nations Championship games this summer, we have seen how good Ireland’s attack can look off clean and efficient lineout ball, but equally we have seen how costly their setpiece errors have been, with both Japan tries last weekend coming as a direct result of lost Irish lineouts.<\/p>\n

\"8
\nCam Roigard carrie son the fine tradition of game-breaking scrum-halves<\/p>\n

Even if the forwards hold up their side of the bargain, Ireland will have a challenge limiting the impact of the New Zealand backs.<\/p>\n

Cam Roigard has developed into one of the best scrum-halves in the world in the last two years, while rookie Ruben Love has settled into the All Blacks 10 jersey in his opening two games, dovetailing nicely with Damian McKezie, who can filter between full-back and out-half.<\/p>\n

In the centre, Jordie Barrett is one of the game’s great all-rounders, and has a bank of inside knowledge on this week’s opponents from his time at Leinster.<\/p>\n

Out wide, Will Jordan has consistently been a thorn in Ireland’s side, scoring five tries in six previous meetings, among a haul of 50 tries in 56 games for New Zealand, breaking Doug Howlett’s record last week.<\/p>\n

On the other wing, Josh Moorby replaces the injured Leroy Carter to make his second appearance and first start, but the 28-year-old has been in sensational form this season for the Hurricanes, scoring a record 17 tries in Super Rugby.<\/p>\n

\"17
\nSam Prendergast walks out for Ireland’s captain’s run at Eden Park<\/p>\n

The defensive holes from the opening game against Australia had been repaired when Ireland beat Japan in Newcastle last week, but Eddie Jones’ side offered little in attack compared to what New Zealand are capable of producing.<\/p>\n

Farrell made a big call in picking Jimmy O’Brien over Jamie Osborne on the left wing this week, with O’Brien earning that selection off the back of two assured performances in the last fortnight.<\/p>\n

The versatile Leinster back has shown previously that he can go toe-to-toe against New Zealand, appearing off the bench and making a significant contribution in that World Cup quarter-final in 2023.<\/p>\n

His ability in the air served Ireland well last week against Japan, and his extra pace may have tipped the scales in his favour over Osborne, given the potency of Jordan and Moorby.<\/p>\n

It may not be the squad of players to face New Zealand that people would have predicted a few months ago, but if everything clicks they have enough weapons and experience to turn it into a famous victory which will rank alongside any that Farrell has produced in his six years in charge.<\/p>\n

But until we see someone beat the All Blacks at Eden Park, it’s hard to back against them.<\/p>\n

Verdict: New Zealand to win, Ireland to get a losing BP<\/p>\n

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax; Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu; Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (capt)<\/p>\n

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.<\/p>\n

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.<\/p>\n

Replacements: R\u00f3nan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen, Craig Casey, Ciar\u00e1n Frawley, Bundee Aki.<\/p>\n

Referee: Nic Berry (RA)<\/p>\n

Listen to the RT\u00c9 Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a> or wherever you get your podcasts<\/a>, and email us at sportpodcasts@rte.ie<\/p>\n

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