Ireland face biggest challenge yet in Nations Championship with All Blacks up next

Bar beating the All Blacks in a World Cup knockout game the biggest possible challenge awaits Ireland on Saturday in Round 3 of the Nations Championship, as they face New Zealand in the venue where they seem utterly invincible.

The All Blacks have been undefeated in 52 Tests at Eden Park in 32 years. 

Ireland famously won a Test Series on New Zealand soil in 2022, but the one they lost in the 2-1 Test Series triumph happened to be at Eden Park, when the All Blacks comfortably won by 42-19. 

So even when Ireland could probably boast that they were superior to New Zealand they still could not get close to them at the iconic Auckland stadium.

The last defeat was to France in 1994 when Jean-Luc Sadourney’s “try from the end of the world” (treat yourself to a look on YouTube) stunned New Zealand.

It is not being negative to suggest that the 2026 version of Ireland is not as good as the 2022 vintage, it is simply fact, so it is difficult to imagine this Irish side being the one that will take the prized Eden Park scalp.

Ireland were not overly impressive last weekend against Japan, with them only being six points to the good when Harry Byrne split the posts with a penalty in the 70th minute and Tom Stewart added a late try to embellish the scoreline to 20-36.

The positives included the abrasive performance of number eight Sean Jansen. 

The Connacht back rower, who was born in Dunedin on New Zealand’s south island, capped his impressive debut last week with a try and was given the man of the match award thanks to his all-action display. 

Jansen is no emerging youngster. He is a gnarly 27-year-old who has earned this opportunity on the back of some brilliant performances in the Connacht back row, and he deserves a shot at facing the nation of his birth this weekend. 

Andy Farrell will certainly know if he is a long-term Test match option after going up against the likes of Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi.

Connacht’s prop pairing Billy Bohan and Sam Illo also made their Irish debuts against Japan, albeit off of the bench, while Ulster’s Bryn Ward was also introduced for his first cap in the back row, as Andy Farrell expands his pack options as Ireland creep towards a World Cup year. 

It is great to see new blood in Irish colours, but those three will be relying on injuries to other members of the squad to see game time against the Kiwis.

Like Ireland, New Zealand have begun their Nations Championship campaign with two victories. 

They opened with a win over France in a 34-32 thriller and last Saturday they comfortably despatched Italy by 47-17, scoring seven tries in the process, including a hat-trick for winger Will Jordan. 

Jordan has scored five in his last two games, while scrum half Cameron Roigard has three, so both will take some watching.

The outhalf battle will be interesting. 

In the absence of Jack Crowley Ireland are giving opportunities to the likes of Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley to stake their claims. 

Frawley did not make the most of his chance last weekend, with Harry Byrne having to come on and settle matters. 

Prendergast slotted the winning kick against Australia but he missed his usual share of tackles, so the jury is still out on all the options to back-up Crowley.

New Zealand are also in experimental mode, as the Hurricanes 25-year-old first five-eight Ruben Love, as they like to call the no. 10 position, is getting his opportunity in these Tests. 

He landed six out of seven conversion attempts against Italy and three out of five against France, while also picking up a second minute yellow card. Like his Irish counterparts he needs to impress here. 

Ireland will target him in the same manner that the All Blacks are likely to go after Ireland’s playmaker. 

The one big advantage that Love has over his opponents is that Jordie Barrett and Duncan McKenzie are likely to be playing centre and full back, respectively, so he certainly is not on his own.

The bookies have New Zealand as thirteen-point favourites. 

It certainly would be a shock if Ireland were to upset the odds and take down Eden Park.