The All Blacks defeated Ireland 40-21 in Auckland in the third round of the Nations Championship, maintaining their unbeaten record and extending their home winning streak at Eden Park to 53 matches over 32 years.
Played on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the match saw New Zealand dominate the first 40 minutes, leading 28-7 after four tries. Dave Rennie's side displayed fast, attacking rugby, with the forward pack setting the platform and the backs executing with precision.
Dominant first half
Patrick Tuipulotu opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a try marking his return to Test rugby, set up by lock partner Josh Lord. Shortly after, in the 22nd minute, captain Ardie Savea burst from the base of a scrum to double the lead.
Ireland pulled one back through Jack Conan in the 32nd minute, assisted by Jamison Gibson-Park, but the response lasted only two minutes: Will Jordan pounced on a loose Irish pass and raced away for his 51st Test try. Before halftime, Asafo Aumua touched down to make it 28-7.
Second half management
Ireland attempted a comeback in the second half, with Joe McCarthy scoring in the 44th minute, but Damian McKenzie replied immediately for the All Blacks. Anton Lienert-Brown sealed the result one minute from time with the final try, making it 40-21.
"We wanted to start well and we did," Damian McKenzie said after the match. "We had a pretty good balance between our kick game and our run game."
Quinn Tupaea was a dynamic presence at midfield, while Tupou Vaa'i, moved from lock to the backrow, made a significant impact at the breakdown. Ireland paid the price for 19 missed tackles within the first 25 minutes and too many handling errors in attacking positions.
Standings and outlook
With three wins from three, New Zealand leads the Nations Championship and confirms their title contender status. Ireland, after the defeat in Auckland, will look to bounce back in the next round.
Sources
- AP News: New Zealand beats Ireland 40-21 to stay unbeaten in the Nations Championship
- All Blacks Official: Match Report - All Blacks vs Ireland | Nations Championship
