Ireland

All Blacks need to improve

The breakdown and the defence have been identified as areas where the team can take a step up, Barrett said, after the Irish won the early collisions and scored three tries at Eden Park.

"We want to take our game to another level and we have already identified many areas to get better," Barrett said in Dunedin.

"Obviously, there were some missed opportunities out there on the weekend. And although it was our first go at it, we would like to improve a lot."

Ireland series shapes as hardest start to an All Black season in ages

With a Covid-hit squad meaning he couldn't even be in camp, the All Blacks coach has raised pretty much every set of rugby eyebrows sky high in what is shaping up to be an extremely interesting test match.

Two debutants named in All Blacks 23 to play Ireland

Fainga'anuku was one of the outstanding finishers in Super Rugby this year and played a big part in the Crusaders run to the title.

Sowakula was also impressive for the Chiefs.

Scott Barrett wears the number 6 jersey with captain Sam Cane at 7 and Ardie Savea at the back of the scrum.

Fainga'anuku gets his first start in the number 11 jersey with fellow Crusader Sevu Reece on the right wing.

After getting called up as cover due to Covid affecting players, Braydon Ennor comes into the 23.

Ireland pay moving tribute to late Sean Wainui before Māori All Blacks game

Ahead of the clash in Hamilton, Ireland's captain Bundee Aki placed a number 11 Ireland jersey on the pitch before an emotional haka performed by the Māori All Blacks.

Wainui, a key member of the Māori All Blacks who wore the number 11 jersey during his career, was killed when his car hit a tree at McLaren Falls Park near Tauranga on 18 October last year.

He was just 25, capped 10 times for the Māori All Blacks, and it was the first time his teammates had played since his tragic loss.

Maori All Blacks 32-17 Ireland: Visitors well beaten in tour opener

The hosts dazzled in a one-sided first half in which they scored four tries to Ireland's one to open up a 22-point advantage.

Gavin Coombes crossed after the break as Ireland improved but it was too late to seriously threaten the Maori lead.

The visitors also lost James Hume and Cian Healy to second-half injuries.

Ireland hammer sorry Wales 29-7 in one-sided opener

The dominant hosts scored only one try in the first half, through Bundee Aki.

Andrew Conway's quickfire double and a magnificent Garry Ringrose effort after the break saw Ireland accelerate away from the injury-ravaged visitors.

Only Taine Basham's late try saved Wales the ignominy of a scoreless defeat.

Wayne Pivac's side remain without a victory in Dublin since 2015 and have rarely looked less likely to win in the Irish capital as they were stifled throughout by an impressive Irish defence.

Ireland rack up record victory over Argentina

Back-row Josh van der Flier scored twice as the Irish wrapped up a fruitful end-of-year campaign in style at the Aviva Stadium.

Fellow forwards Andrew Porter, Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy and Tadhg Beirne also claimed tries to help Andy Farrell’s men stretch their unbeaten run to eight games.

Meanwhile, the exceptional Joey Carbery – filling in for injured skipper Johnny Sexton – backed up his match-winning cameo in last weekend’s stunning success over New Zealand by kicking 18 points.

All Blacks fall to Ireland in Dublin

The All Blacks led 10-5 at halftime.

Ireland scored three tries to the All Blacks two and kicked several penalties to secure the nine point win.

Ireland's New Zealand born wing James Lowe scored the first try of the test, while hooker Codie Taylor, who was yellow carded in the first half, and wing Will Jordan scored tries for the All Blacks.

It's the All Blacks first loss of their Northern Tour.

Ireland dominated most aspects from start to finish with another superb performance against the All Blacks.

All Blacks bring back big guns for Ireland

Winger Sevu Reece is the only player retained from last week's scrappy win over Italy as the selectors named a team close to that which featured in the previous week's 54-16 thumping of Wales.

Among the backs from the Welsh test, Rieko Ioane is moved from the wing to midfield to partner Anton Lienert-Brown and replace David Havili, who drops to the bench as Reece moves over to the left after starting on the right in Rome.

Fiji focused on Covid after Ireland cancels rugby tour

Ireland had been scheduled to play two tests in Fiji and one test against Tonga during the July international window.

The trip was already in doubt because of the ongoing border restrictions around the world, which would have required players to quarantine for two weeks on arrival in Fiji.

On Friday the Ireland Rugby Football Union confirmed the tour was off, saying the "recent Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdown in Fiji" had increased the level of risk and it was no longer viable to proceed with the planned tour.