![\"All](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/all-blacks-coach-dave-rennie-at-training-LE6KHLZM7RD3POL64BWUQON25Q.jpg\")
<\/p>\nExperienced All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor has described this Saturday\u2019s Test against Ireland at Eden Park as his team\u2019s biggest Test of the year to date.<\/p>\n
The Irish, who have become hugely respected rivals of the All Blacks since first beating them in 2016 and then claiming an historic series victory in New Zealand in 2022, will arrive in Auckland with belief after Nations Championship victories over the Wallabies and Japan.<\/p>\n
And, while head coach Dave Rennie today sought to slightly play down the importance of the Test at his team\u2019s fortress, where they have not tasted defeat since 1994, Taylor was unequivocal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our biggest challenge so far,\u201d he told 1News. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a good couple of weeks but, personally, I\u2019ve always had this one in the back of my mind knowing it\u2019s going to be a step up and a big Test for us. If we can get the job done it will really set us up nicely for what\u2019s ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Irish are a class side. I think they\u2019ve won their last six. They have a real belief in how they play and it\u2019s always a tough Test against them. Physically, we\u2019re going to have to step up and definitely defensively as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The clash is significant for all sorts of reasons, not least that the All Blacks\u2019 52-Test unbeaten streak at Eden Park is on the line.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n
It will be Rennie\u2019s first Test there in his new role \u2013 he has previously coached the Wallabies there, to a loss. <\/p>\n
The clash will likely play a big part in whether the All Blacks or the Springboks make the Nations Championship final at Twickenham in November \u2013 the two rivals are currently level on competition points.<\/p>\n
And it will be the final hit out before the All Blacks head to South Africa for an epic tour which takes in four matches plus three Tests against the world champions (plus another in the United States).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always nice to go to Eden Park,\u201d said Rennie drily, after being reminded of his Wallabies connection. \u201cIt will be nice to have a lot of supporters cheering for us. It\u2019s been a fortress, but what\u2019s happened in the past counts for little. It\u2019s about us getting our preparation right and mindset right to play against an Irish side that, the last time they toured this country, they won a series.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a healthy amount of respect for the Irish. We\u2019re well aware of their ability. They\u2019ll come in and genuinely believe they can beat us.\u201d<\/p>\n
For their part, the All Blacks believe they are in a good position to display further improvements after a mixed performance first up against France <\/a>and a better one against Italy <\/a>in Wellington at the weekend.<\/p>\n They are still striving for balance on attack, with Rennie saying a kicking option along with their \u201coptimistic\u201d running mindset would break the game up and potentially provide them with counter-attacking options, and they feel they have made shifts on defence.<\/p>\n There is the set piece to consider, though, that will need to be far better after conceding a couple of scrum penalties against Italy.<\/p>\n Neither Rennie nor Taylor believed this was an issue, however.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a good scrum, Italy,\u201d Rennie said. \u201cThey dominated Ireland and others in the Six Nations. Like all coaches, we\u2019ll debate a couple of those decisions\u2026 I think our scrum was solid. It\u2019s going to need to be very good this week.\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor said: \u201cNorthern Hemisphere teams have different techniques and strategies. We probably didn\u2019t respond to it very well. We\u2019ll definitely have a look at it \u2013 it\u2019s going to be the same with Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n To the likely selections then<\/p>\n Ireland halfback Jamison Gibson-Park. (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n Injuries will probably not play a big part in selections this week, although outside back\/midfielder Rieko Ioane has joined the squad after his return from Irish club Leinster due to shoulder issues for Leroy Carter and Fehi Fineanganofo.<\/p>\n However, Ioane will likely have joined more as training cover because it would surprise if Caleb Clarke, not required last weekend, did not start on the left wing due to his ability under the high ball.<\/p>\n Flanker Luke Jacobson, withdrawn for Anton Segner at halftime against Italy due to cramp, and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who has yet to play in this campaign due to a calf niggle, will be available, Rennie said.<\/p>\n Looking ahead to the South Africa trip, Rennie said he would add 10 players (probably six forwards and four backs, but potentially a seven\/three split) for a squad of 44 that would be announced seven days or so after the Ireland Test.<\/p>\n Former skipper Scott Barrett remains unavailable for the trip due to back surgery in May but Rennie had better news about fellow lock Fabian Holland, who has not played this year due to a dislocated shoulder in a Super Rugby pre-season match.<\/p>\n \u201cFabian is a chance,\u201d Rennie said. \u201cHe\u2019ll have a hit out with Otago early before we name the team.<\/p>\n \u201cFabian\u2019s rehab has been excellent. He\u2019s in good nick. We\u2019ve been keeping a good eye on him \u2013 we\u2019ve had video footage of what he\u2019s been doing. It will just be nice for him to get some game time in for Otago and hopefully be available.\u201d<\/p>\n Back to Ireland and the growing rivalry that includes an epic quarter-final victory for the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup which will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to watch live at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n It is a little ironic that Ioane comes in during this week of all weeks after his running battles with the now retired Johnny Sexton, and others, but it is fitting nonetheless.<\/p>\n Bad blood or normal Test rivalry? Taylor was asked. <\/p>\n The latter, he said, before adding: \u201cThat comes from Ireland being a great side and beating us a few times. As All Blacks, you take that personally.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Experienced All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor has described this Saturday\u2019s Test against Ireland at Eden Park as his…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":523439,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[789,111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-523438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-all-blacks","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=523438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523438\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/523439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=523438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=523438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=523438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Ireland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ireland-halfback-jamison-gibson-park-MBLXQJCCOVGOVLHBT2KXEO6VYI.jpg\")
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