The New Zealand All Blacks haven't lost at Eden Park since July 3, 1994.
That's 52 consecutive Test matches. And Ireland Rugby has a chance to do what South Africa couldn't in 2025: end one of the greatest winning streaks in the history of sports, and certainly in rugby history. In 2025, the Springboks and coach Rassie Erasmus built much of their Rugby Championship around ending the Eden Park streak. Instead, the All Blacks withstood a furious second-half rally after leading 14-0 at halftime and won 24-17.
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The streak survived then. It survived a few weeks later when the All Blacks beat Bledisloe Cup rival Australia 33-24.
Now comes Ireland, which despite being as far away from New Zealand as you can be, has developed one of the world's best international rivalries with the All Blacks. Can the Irish, No. 3 in the world, beat New Zealand, No. 2 in the world, this week?
Ireland Rugby vs. New Zealand Has Become One Of The Best Rugby Test Matchups In The World
New Zealand has Ireland's number. The All Blacks have won three straight against Ireland, including the rather disjointed showdown in Chicago in the fall of 2025, a 26-13 win. The year before in the Autumn Nations Series, Peter O'Mahony stepped up to the haka and New Zealand didn't like that. The All Blacks won 23-13.
But the match that started this losing streak is the biggest of all.
It Won't Erase The 2023 Rugby World Cup Loss, But Ireland Rugby Has A Chance At Revenge
The worst loss in Irish rugby history was not a bad loss, just a disappointing one. Ireland has never reached the Rugby World Cup semifinals, and the 2023 tournament was seen as its best chance not just to do that, but to win the whole thing. Instead, it met New Zealand, probably a round earlier than it would have in a normal Rugby World Cup.
Ireland entered that match having beaten New Zealand twice in the Southern Hemisphere in 2022, but Ardie Savea and the All Blacks got their own revenge. They beat Ireland 28-24 and went on to play in the Rugby World Cup Final.
There are enough players still on both sides who played in that match nearly three years ago.
Jordie Barrett Has Some Irish Colors Now
The last time Ireland and New Zealand played, Jordie Barrett played just 12 minutes before leaving due to an injury. He has since gone on to win a Super Rugby championship with the Hurricanes, but before that, he spent most of 2025 in Ireland with Leinster. Barrett has even wondered aloud about returning to Ireland and Leinster Rugby to help the club win the Investec Champions Cup.
Barrett is among the best players on New Zealand, and his All Blacks coach, Dave Rennie, is leaning on his Irish knowledge to help win this match.
The All Blacks Have Looked Vulnerable The Last Two Seasons
Scott Robertson's tenure as coach lasted two international seasons for the All Blacks. Rennie took over this offseason after winning a Japan Rugby League One championship with All Blacks star Savea leading the way.
Last year, the All Blacks struggled against a third-string French team twice in their sweep of France in the 2025 Test series.
Then, later that summer, a week after winning the aforementioned match against South Africa at Eden Park, they suffered the worst loss in the nation's history, 43-10. To start the 2026 season, another French team, still missing many of its top players, nearly beat the All Blacks again as New Zealand escaped with a 34-32 win in Christchurch.
In Round 2, the All Blacks buried an Italian team that had lost to Japan the week before, 47-17. Ireland is the best team they have played, and they saved the Irish for the only Eden Park match of the Nations Championship.
Ireland Rugby Not Alone In Struggles
The Irish haven't been perfect either. In the last 12 months, they have lost to the All Blacks, South Africa and France. Ireland was pushed by Wales and Italy in the Six Nations. So far, Ireland has played brutally tough matches against Japan and Australia, but it has won.
All Blacks vs. Ireland Kickoff
The match is set for 3:10 a.m. ET in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Nations Championship Fixtures & Schedule
- Saturday, July 18, 3:10 a.m. ET — New Zealand vs. Ireland
- Saturday, July 18, 4:40 a.m. ET — Japan vs. France
- Saturday, July 18, 6:10 a.m. ET — Australia vs. Italy
- Saturday, July 18, 9:10 a.m. ET — Fiji vs. Scotland
- Saturday, July 18, 11:40 a.m. ET — South Africa vs. Wales
- Saturday, July 18, 3:10 p.m. ET — Argentina vs. England
World Rugby Nations Cup Fixtures & Schedule
- Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m. ET — Samoa vs. Romania
- Saturday, July 18, 12:00 p.m. ET — Uruguay vs. Hong Kong China
- Saturday, July 18, 2:00 p.m. ET — Chile vs. Georgia
- Saturday, July 18, 3:45 p.m. ET — Tonga vs. Portugal
- Saturday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. ET — USA vs. Spain
- Saturday, July 18, 7:00 p.m. ET — Canada vs. Zimbabwe
Here's How Fans Can Watch The Nations Championship
Fans in the United States can stream every match of the Nations Championship for free on RugbyPass TV and the World Rugby YouTube page.
Here's How Fans Can Watch The World Rugby Nations Cup
Fans in the United States can stream the USA Rugby Eagles and the rest of the field on Paramount+.
Current World Rugby Men's Rankings
- South Africa — 93.96
- New Zealand — 91.04
- Ireland — 89.32
- France — 87.43
- England — 84.75 (+1)
- Scotland — 84.09 (-1)
- Argentina — 84.06
- Australia — 80.60
- Fiji — 78.69
- Italy — 77.31
- Japan — 76.42 (+1)
- Wales — 76.38 (-1)
- Georgia — 73.30
- USA — 69.40
- Portugal — 68.67
- Spain — 67.66 (+4)
- Uruguay — 67.62 (-1)
- Chile — 67.59 (-1)
- Samoa — 66.27 (-1)
- Tonga — 65.85 (-1)
- Belgium — 61.03
- Romania — 60.92
- Canada — 59.46
- Hong Kong China — 58.86
- Zimbabwe — 58.59
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