26 min: Ireland have played most of the rugby but find themselves falling behind… Sexton will be annoyed to have missed that conversion and that’s putting it mildly. This is the difference between parity and the slim deficit Ireland now faces.
However, Farrell’s side continued to ask questions in attack, with James Lowe trying to get on the end of a kick forward on the edge of the All Blacks 22.
Updated at 08.39 BST
I’m trying! 21 min: New Zealand 7-5 Ireland (Barrett)
The home side attacked smoothly from the right, then the left and Barrett turned over thanks to a clever pass back inside after debutant Fainga’anuku had almost worked his way to the line. Barrett nails the kick for the extras.
Updated at 08.36 BST
19 min: New Zealand are enjoying the ball on the front foot and moving into the Ireland 22. It serves as a reminder that from the first few minutes it was all Ireland. Just before that, Sexton tried a brave chip and chase in Ireland’s half. Pharrell wanted to see courage, he definitely does.
Updated at 08.31 BST
17 min: A really great start, but just a start for now.
@LukeMcLaughlin great start from Ireland. The All Blacks at Eden Park is perhaps the hardest place to beat in world sport. That’s what this group of boys in green wants, to be in the lion’s den and show they can slay the beast!
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) July 2, 2022
15 min: New Zealand win a penalty in a scrum in the Irish half. Welcome plus point. From the next line, Ireland return the ball. Sexton kicks forward and Keenan very, very nearly offloads to Gibson-Park, who might have had a clean run to the line. Instead it’s cleared by fullback Jordy Barrett, who reads it brilliantly. And it would have been a yellow card for the All Black if he had dropped that one after juggling…
Updated at 08.27 BST
11 min: Geordie Barrett launches a sniper from deep on the home side’s left. He is brought down and Peter O’Mahony rips the ball off the bat, making New Zealand No.9 Smith look a little silly. O’Mahony fires forward and Earls is almost at him but is connected in touch in the home 22. It’s all coming Ireland right now because of the industrious way Andy Farrell’s men have started the game.
Updated at 08.23 BST
10 mins: Ringrose’s crunching tackle on Kane forces a knock-on and a scrum for Ireland around halfway. New Zealand fall back on the field and trail on the scoreboard. There are visibly concerned faces among the All Blacks squad. If they thought this was going to be an “easy” night, or at least easy, think again.
Updated at 08.20 BST
I’m trying! 7 mins: New Zealand 0-5 Ireland (Earls)
Ireland win a slightly lucky offside penalty. It gives them a chance to move into the All Blacks half for the first time. And they mounted an excellent attack, going through multiple phases and stretching the home defence, with Gibson-Park leading the way from the base. Sheehan and Keenan go close to breaking through as Ireland approach the line, showing top-class control and continuity. The ball is sent in correctly thanks to a very good pass under pressure from Keenan … Earls has a feel for the line and does superbly to hit a tackle and score! What a start for Ireland! Sexton can’t hit the right kick and it’s a shame to only score five points for such a complete attack from the visitors’ first real possession, but Ireland will take it.
Updated at 08.18 BST
2 minutes: A long period of kick tennis follows. Hugo Keenan initially mishandles the ball in the Ireland 22 but manages to line it up and feed it to Sexton. New Zealand rule it from this next possession. Sheehan almost affected a turnover but was simply taken off the ball. A low kick in the corner and it’s Ireland’s line five meters from their line.
Updated at 08.12 BST
Start of the first half!
Beauden Barrett starts! He sends the shot down the middle. Ireland got involved in the first skirmish…
Updated 08.09 BST
Ireland have lost 12 out of 12 in all their Tests in New Zealand so far.
Here’s the Haka.
Don’t forget, you can email or tweet me with any thoughts on the match.
The teams are on the field, it’s time for the anthems, and kick-off is less than five minutes away.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than Eden Park on a dry evening,” Ireland head coach Andy Farrell told Sky Sports. “We know the challenge ahead of us, but we’re excited right now…
“I want to see some courage. I want to see us myself from the word “Go”.
Updated 08.03 BST
Michael Aylwin
In the eternal struggle between national sport and international, more exquisitely leveled in rugby than anywhere else, this weekend marks the opening of the latest window for the international game to make its stand. Traders also matter a lot if the strength of announced teams, so often depleted at this time of year, is anything to go by.
Teams
Ireland’s Finley Bealham has tested positive for Covid, so Cian Healy makes the 22. There are a couple of debutants for New Zealand, with Lester Fainga’anuku on the wing and Chiefs No.8 Pita Gus Sovakula on the bench.
New Zealand: J. Barrett, Rees, R. Ioane, Tupaea, Faingaanuku, B. Barrett, Smith, Bower, Taylor, Tu’ungafasi, Retallick, Whitelock, S. Barrett, Kane, Savea. Subs: Taukeiaho, Tuinukuafe, Taavao-Matau, Sovakula, Papalii, Christie, Mo’unga, Enor.
Ireland: Keenan, Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson-Park, Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, Van der Fleer, Dorris. Subs: Heffernan, Healy, O’Toole, Treadwell, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Aki.
Referee: Carl Dixon (RFU)
Updated at 07.50 BST
Preamble
Ireland have waited a long time to beat New Zealand: 111 years to be exact. After finally achieving the feat in Chicago in 2018, the floodgates have opened and Ireland now have three wins against the All Blacks on the books, the last in November 2021.
However, they are yet to beat New Zealand in New Zealand. What would it mean for Andy Farrell’s side to do so in the next few weeks? Everything and nothing, but most of all everything, both as a milestone on their road to next year’s World Cup and in its own right as one of rugby union’s great achievements.
Like Wimbledon and the Tour de France, Covid has not left this event untouched, with a number of players and coaches suspended. Former Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, was even brought in as a New Zealand back-up player to lend a hand.
With England in Australia and Wales in South Africa, it’s the start of a great summer of rugby, but this could be the best of them all.
Start: 8.05am BST.
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