Ireland v New Zealand

The connoisseur's choice of internationals this weekend is New Zealand v Ireland and the chance of history being made.

This weekend, though, what feels a more traditional format begins, with teams travelling to the other side of the world for a Test series of meaningful length against one team. South Africa have picked a characteristically monstrous team, packed with World Cup winners, for their first Test against Wales, while Argentina have gone similarly full-bore for theirs against Scotland. Wales give a first cap to Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell, who will line up against Leicester teammate and fellow English champion, Jasper Wiese, at No8 for the Springboks. Alun Wyn Jones’s 150 caps will weigh heavily on Wales’s bench. Cian Healy was carted off with a twisted knee in Ireland’s 32-17 defeat to the Maori on Tuesday, but he seems to have recovered sufficiently to assume his place on the bench this weekend. If international rugby gets its way, every other year we will see yet another tournament of meaning and intensity crank itself up on this first weekend of July, in a desperate bid to hold off the encroaching power and influence of the domestic game. France have only two Tests this July, in Japan. Whoever wins in Eden Park will leapfrog them into second place in World Rugby’s rankings. In the perennial struggle between domestic sport and international, more exquisitely poised in rugby than anywhere else, this weekend marks the opening of the latest window for the international game to set out its stall.

Here we look at three areas which may decide the outcome. Half-back wits - Beauden Barrett v Johnny Sexton. It's the battle of the 2016/17 and 2018 World Rugby ...

He’s been at the top of his game for the last number of years as one of the best back rows in the world." He made major contributions in the two Dublin victories over New Zealand and has seen off three-time Lions starter Jack Conan for a back-row berth. Nuisance at the breakdown. "Three top quality players, obviously Barrett we haven’t seen too much of him at six recently. It’ll be exciting going up against him. "I’m sure confidence will be high.

IRELAND FACE A mammoth first test against the New Zealand in Eden Park, Auckland in the early hou...

The All Blacks have been hit with Covid cases, meaning that the former Ireland coach, who was meant to begin work with New Zealand as a selector after the tour will now start ahead of schedule. New Zealand have also named a formidable side in the opening game. The problem for Ireland is that New Zealand's record at Eden Park is impeccable. Any type of performance that we’ve had before where we’ve managed to get over the line, that won’t do this weekend, I’m sure about that. We like the pressure of this series. Ian Foster: "It's a great series for us.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell underlined the importance of the tour as Ireland begin their World Cup preparations. He said: "This is the start of our Rugby ...

- From grabbing pro tees at Fota to aiming for the top - Seamus Power is on a roll The Irish squad's tour is their first since a 2018 2-1 series victory against the Wallabies in Australia, and their first to New Zealand since 2012. Ireland take on the All-Blacks on Saturday in what is sure to be a thrilling contest.

Check out how to watch New Zealand v Ireland in the Summer Internationals, including TV details and more.

New Zealand v Ireland (8:05am) Sky Sports Action / Main Event Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. You can unsubscribe at any time. Australia v England (10:55am) Sky Sports Action / Main Event Ireland also has an impressive recent record – three wins in their last five – against Saturday's opponent. While it was by no means a full-strength XV, the way they were dominated will be cause for concern.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg ...

We’ve gone to various big stadiums across the world and we expect it to be buzzing here tomorrow night.” Hello and welcome to our live blog for the first test between the All Blacks and Ireland. “But, at the same time, it’s a massive opportunity for an Irish team to come over and win on New Zealand soil for the first time. Ireland have won 12 of their last 13 test matches, but they have never beaten the All Blacks on New Zealand soil and have lost all 12 games they have played in the country. The match is scheduled to start at 8.05am Irish time and will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Arena. Ireland take on New Zealand in Auckland in the first of their summer tests this morning.

The Haka will then, of course, follow. 7:59AM. And now the All Blacks.

He undoubtedly will have given unique insight to the New Zealand camp but it seems unlikely that will make up for a week of disruption. Do not kick loosely to the All Blacks! The ball is run back, Ioane carrying the ball up to the Irish 22. Ireland win their ball, Doris carries from the back of the maul before it is cleared long. Iain Henderson is also unavailable with an injury that has ruled him out of the tour. The prop then added Wales and Twickenham to his son's middle names. Ireland go through the phases, slowly making ground before Sheehan busts a tackle, taking them to five metres out. With penalty advantage, the ball comes out the back and Earls darts back inside to fight his way over the line. Ireland maul before Sheehan sneaks down the blindside. It was a lovely pass from Keenan to free the Munster winger. New Zealand regather a kick following the line-out. Ireland clear the restart via Sexton. Reece runs it back. The kicking exchange ends with a good touch by Lowe.

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has today (Thursday) announced the Ireland side that will take to the field at Eden Park in Auckland in the first Test of ...

5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 43 3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 57 1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 43 13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 42 15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) 20 “So all that needs to come to fruition under extreme pressure. “What really wins top level rugby is always going to be the same. Like I’ve said to you before, any type of performance that we’d have before where we’ve managed to get over the line that won’t do this weekend. He added: “We’re under no illusions what we’re up against at the weekend. “He’s still a bit sore this morning. “I think Cian had a bit more of a scare than anything else,” the Ireland boss said. Beirne steps in for Iain Henderson whose summer tour was ended by a knee injury.

Minute-by-minute report: A blockbuster first Test at Eden Park awaits. Join Luke McLaughlin for all the latest.

Hugo Keenan initially miscontrols a ball in the Ireland 22, but manages to tidy up and give it to Sexton. New Zealand run it from this next possession. That’s serves as a reminder that since the first couple of minutes, it’s been all Ireland. Just before that Sexton tried a brave chip and chase in the Ireland half. Everything and nothing, but mainly everything, both as a milestone on their journey to next year’s World Cup, and in itself as one of rugby union’s great achievements. He’s brought down, and Peter O’Mahony snatches the ball out of the ruck, making the New Zealand No 9 Smith look a little silly. In the perennial struggle between domestic sport and international, more exquisitely poised in rugby than anywhere else, this weekend marks the opening of the latest window for the international game to set out its stall. 19 min: New Zealand enjoy a bit of front-foot ball and move towards the Ireland 22. He can’t gather the ball himself but manages to bat the ball to the right - a couple of Ireland defenders rush past the bouncing ball, and Savea flops on it to score. Barrett nails the kick for the extras. 26 min: Ireland have played most of the rugby but find themselves behind ... Sexton will be annoyed he missed that conversion and that’s putting it lightly. After a hugely accomplished start, a couple of moments of carelessness have let the hosts back in. Ireland’s defence isn’t set, Beauden Barrett nudges a nice grubber kick towards the posts, and Tupaea calmly waits for it to bobble up before gathering and touching down. If Ireland can start the second half like they started the first, though, there could still be a game on in the second half.

Ireland are aiming for a first-ever victory in New Zealand in Auckland. The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since 1994.

— — — — 50 mins from kickoff: If you're an Ireland fan, the historical omens aren't good, with no win ever in a New Zealand Test and the All Blacks not losing at Eden Park since 1994. Anthems and the haka. There's a break in play before a scrum on the Irish 10-metre line and the All Blacks have a bit of a conflab. Scrum just outside the visitors' 22 and they have the put-in. 5th minute: Ireland venture into the New Zealand 22 and they're battering a path through! 14th minute: Big scrum from New Zealand on and Ireland put-in. Ireland keep the move going, back inside and into the 22. Jordie Barrett goes three from three from the tee.

A scrum penalty for New Zealand, Ireland pinged for illegal wheeling under massive pressure from the All Blacks pack. Some players looked to be struggling with ...

The 36-year-old moved back to New Zealand last year and has been playing for Taranaki. New Zealand trying to work their way into the contest but the Ireland defence has been superb so far. Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens in Eden Park, and it’s already been an eventful day in Auckland for Andy Farrell’s squad. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites. Ireland hold firm and Jamison Gibson-Park scurries out the back to clear the ball. Form is with them, just one defeat coming from their last 13 games, some notable scalps along the way: England twice, Argentina with 46 points to spare, Japan by a 55-point margin, New Zealand. In a further blow for Ireland, Johnny Sexton has left the action after what looked like a bang to the head. The ball eventually spills and Sevu Reece breaks from his own half to race in New Zealand’s second, which Barrett converts. Barrett slips a neat kick in behind and Quinn Tupaea bursts through to collect and dot down, with Barrett slotting his third conversion. At times their attack play has looked too forced and the defence has invited New Zealand pressure. Having been held scoreless for the opening 20 minutes, the All Blacks have already crossed three times and are in full control in Auckland. Barrett nails the conversion and Ireland’s good work at the start of the second half is already undone.

Follow along live as Nathan Johns guides you through all the action as Ireland take on the All Blacks at Eden Park.

Covid wiped out virtually all of the New Zealand coaching ticket - hence Joe Schmidt’s involvement on their bench today - it has struck Ireland as well as Finlay Bealham has been ruled out in a late development. This comes after Jeremy Loughman suffered a suspected concussion against the Maori All Blacks while Cian Healy looked to have picked up a tour-ending ankle injury. Tadhg Beirne also returns having not played for Munster between the Six Nations and now during injury; Ireland look to be prioritising the lineout as an attacking launch. Anthems first before Ireland face the haka. Scott Barrett starts at six even though he has not done so for the All Blacks since their disastrous 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to England. Their midfield pairing of Quinn Tupaea and Rieko Ioane is also pretty beefy, though, for all the rugby Ioane has played in the centre, you can’t help but think Ireland can get at him in attack given he is traditionally a wing. Ireland get a free-kick as New Zealand close the gap at the lineout, scrum taken. Ireland get away with one after kicking loosely to Sevu Reece. It’s scrappy stuff on the deck but the All Blacks drop it while trying to flood through on the deck. 10 mins: Ireland get their maul defence wrong but the All Blacks don’t take advantage as Smith kicks off the base too early. Both sides exchage kicks before Lowe finds a decent touch inside the Kiwi half, albeit it was a bit of a shank. 13 mins: It’s been an almighty battle between Bower and Furlong at the scrum so far. The rugby finally gets underway and we can put all this talk of Joe Schmidt and provocative gambling ads behind us.

Watch all four summer tours on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action: New Zealand vs Ireland (from 7.30am, 8.05am KO), Australia vs England (from 10.15am, ...

Ireland were encamped on the All Blacks 22, going through the phases and building momentum, when James Lowe and Garry Ringrose both slipped. Seevu Reece hooved ...

There were moments in the first half where Ireland seemed intent to force an adventurous, attacking approach to the game; anti-Joe Schmidt rugby, you might say. And now New Zealand have their tails up, and it's going to be an extremely difficult 40 minutes because New Zealand with confidence, New Zealand with space, New Zealand with no pressure, watch out. New Zealand fought back with a try from Jordie Barrett but the match was in the melting pot in the 30th minute. Ireland were probably, for myself and Sean watching the game, you could see if they were able to control the ball, they were causing fierce problems for New Zealand in their phase attack. It was a massively frustrating evening for Ireland against the All Blacks in Eden Park in Auckland tonight. Ireland were encamped on the All Blacks 22, going through the phases and building momentum, when James Lowe and Garry Ringrose both slipped.

In truth, the 23-point margin was a harsh reflection on Ireland's performance, but lapses from the Irish team allowed the clinical All Blacks to stamp their ...

They were unfortunate not to get at least one more try on the board, and had a great share both of possession and territory. New Zealand's 13 made a brilliant last ditch tackle to slow Joey Carbery and force the Irish outhalf into dropping the ball on the line on 58 minutes, preventing a try which would have given Ireland the faintest of hope. A beautifully struck conversion from Joey Carbery gave Ireland a glimmer of hope that they could, at least, keep in touch with the All Blacks. New Zealand made the most of Ireland's wobble, and ruthlessly put two more tries on the board before half time to stretch the lead to 28-5 at half time. Barrett converts and is that game over as far as the result is concerned? Another try was to follow from New Zealand replacement Pita Gus Sowakula, before Bundee Aki scored Ireland's third late on. "The seas parted in front of him! Nonetheless, the 42-19 scoreline will be a shock for Ireland coach Andy Farrell and his team. What was worse was mere seconds later, Ireland captain and talisman Johnny Sexton was forced off for a HIA, with Joey Carbery replacing him. In the opening test in Auckland on Saturday, New Zealand ran out comprehensive winners by 42-19. Leicester Fainga’anuku barrelled towards the line before a last-ditch tackle prevented him from scoring on his All Blacks debut. It was a surprising result, given recent form suggested that the teams were far more closely matched.

For 20 minutes, we had a contest. Mistakes led to New Zealand tries out of nowhere and it got grim. The full Ireland ratings do not make for pretty reading.

The momentum-setter for his team again. Almost had Gibson Park in for a try after collecting a Sexton grubber on the charge. Took over as captain when Sexton went off, but got little change out of referee Karl Dickson. Kept going and had two nice offloads, one of which led to a try. Was alive to snatch a loose ball after an AB's lineout went astray. Was pinged for offside when he returned. Forcing the issue and trying to play that quick tempo cost Ireland one try. Hard to blame him on that second Savea try as it was a two-on-one. Peach of a pass to set up that Earls try. Brought out multiple chip-and-chases and kicks over the top, to try keep the Kiwis honest. Missed a tackle on Savea before the forward's second try. For 20 minutes, we had a contest. The full Ireland ratings do not make for pretty reading.

Keith Earls scored his 35th international try inside six minutes as Andy Farrell's side flew out of the blocks at a sold-out Eden Park but things swiftly ...

Tupaea raced on to a perfectly-weighted kick from Beauden Barrett to cross, before Aaron Smith’s delightful chip and chase culminated in Savea diving on to the loose ball as the dispersed Irish defence floundered. Ireland were looking to move on from a midweek mauling at the hands of the Maori All Blacks. Influential fly-half Sexton was forced off in the aftermath of Reece’s breakaway try and later failed a head injury assessment to compound a miserable outing.