New Zealand extended their impressive unbeaten run at Eden Park to 53 matches with a commanding 40-21 victory over Ireland. The All Blacks demonstrated their dominance early on, scoring four tries in the first half to secure a 28-7 lead by halftime. This victory marks their third consecutive win in the inaugural Nations Championship.
The match began with Patrick Tuipulotu putting New Zealand on the scoreboard, followed by a try from captain Ardie Savea. Despite being down to 14 players momentarily after Luke Jacobson received a yellow card, the All Blacks maintained their grip on the game. Ireland responded with a try from Jack Conan, but New Zealand capitalized on their opportunities, with Will Jordan taking advantage of an Irish error to notch his sixth try in three Tests. Asafo Aumua added another try just before the halftime whistle, further consolidating the hosts’ lead.
In the second half, Ireland showed improvement with tries from Joe McCarthy and Hugo Keenan, but their efforts were overshadowed by their earlier defensive lapses. The All Blacks continued to press their advantage, with Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown each scoring to cement the win for New Zealand.
This victory is a positive sign for head coach Dave Rennie, as his team has now achieved wins against France, Italy, and Ireland. Their next challenge will be a four-match tour of South Africa, where they will aim to build on this strong start to the Nations Championship.