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Ireland prepares to face New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 8:24 AM

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

Ireland prepares to face New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday
Summary

Ireland captain Dan Sheehan emphasized the need for his team to 'make our own history' as they prepare to take on New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday. Ireland has maximum points from their opening matches against Australia and Japan but faces heightened expectations against the All Blacks, who have a strong home record. Sheehan urged the squad to perform at their best, noting that many players are new to this matchup. Ireland will seek to build on their past success from a Test series victory in New Zealand in 2022, although they lost their previous encounter at Eden Park. The match is expected to be a significant test for both sides, with New Zealand also entering the contest with a perfect record.

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Key Details
  • •Ireland faces New Zealand in the Nations Championship on Saturday at Eden Park.
  • •Dan Sheehan calls for the squad to focus on making their own history.
  • •Ireland collected maximum points from prior matches against Australia and Japan.
  • •New Zealand is unbeaten at Eden Park since 1994, creating a challenging environment.
  • •This match is crucial for Ireland to showcase their improvements and capabilities.
Latest Updates
  • 8:31 AMYahoo Sports — Ireland must 'make our own history' in NZ - Sheehan
  • 8:24 AMBBC Sport — Ireland must 'make our own history' in NZ - Sheehan
What they're saying
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Ireland captain Dan Sheehan says Andy Farrell's side must "make our own history" when they take on New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday [08:10 BST].

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Ireland captain Dan Sheehan says Andy Farrell's side must "make our own history" when they take on New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday [08:10 BST].

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