Ireland's first victory over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil was a long time coming. We've had a look back on every previous Irish visit to take on the Kiwis. Read on, if you dare...
June 5, 1976, Wellington: New Zealand 11 Ireland 3
A Barry McGann penalty was the lone Irish score at Athletic Park. The hosts got the better of a low-scoring affair thanks to tries from Ian Kirkpatrick and Bruce Robertson.
New Zealand: L Mains; B Williams, B Robertson, J Jaffray, N Purvis; D Robertson, L Davis; B Bush, R Norton, K Tanner, H Macdonald, P Whiting, I Kirkpatrick, K Stewart, A Leslie (capt). Replacement: S Going.
Ireland: A Ensor; T Grace (capt), M Gibson, J McIlrath, A McMaster; B McGann, J Robbie; P Orr, P Whelan, P O'Callaghan, R Hakin, M Keane, S McKinney, J Davidson, W Duggan.
Referee: T Doocey (Canterbury, New Zealand)
May 30, 1992, Dunedin: New Zealand 24 Ireland 21
Described, among other things, as "the Everest of moral victories", this Irish near-miss at Carisbrook came a week after a heavy defeat to Auckland. Noel Murphy's side battled the Kiwis almost to a standstill, with Ronnie Carey's match-up with the terrifying Inga Tuigamala particularly memorable.
New Zealand: G Cooper; J Kirwan, F Bunce, E Clarke, V Tuigamala; W Little, A Strachan; S McDowell, S Fitzpatrick (capt), R Loe, I Jones, B Larsen, J Joseph, P Henderson, A Pene. Replacement: G Dowd for Loe.
Ireland: J Staples; N Furlong, V Cunningham, P Danaher (capt), R Carey; P Russell, M Bradley; P McCarthy, S Smith, N Popplewell, P Johns, M Galwey, M Fitzgibbon, R Leahy, B Robinson. Replacements: B Rigney for Leahy, M McCall for Danaher.
Referee: A MacNeil (Australia)
June 6, 1992, Wellington: New Zealand 59 Ireland 6
The All Blacks reasserted their superiority a week later at Athletic Park with a dominant second-half display. The Kiwis led just 15-6 at the break. Ireland would not score again.
Frank Bunce touched down twice, as did Matt Cooper and Aran Pene. Cooper converted six tries, while Neville Furlong's score - converted by Peter Russell - was the Boys in Green's only reply.
New Zealand: M Cooper; J Kirwan, F Bunce, E Clarke, J Timu; W Little, A Strachan; S McDowell, S Fitzpatrick (capt), O Brown, I Jones, R Brooke, M Brewer, M Jones, A Pene.
Ireland: J Staples; N Furlong, V Cunningham, M McCall, R Carey; P Russell, M Bradley (capt); P McCarthy, S Smith, N Popplewell, P Johns, B Rigney, M Fitzgibbon, M Galwey, B Robinson. Replacements: P Kenny for Fitzgibbon, K Murphy for Staples, J Clarke for Russell.
Referee: A MacNeill (Australia)
June 15, 2002, Dunedin: New Zealand 15 Ireland 6
A day before Mick McCarthy's footballers would make their World Cup exit at the hands of Spain, Kiwi boss John Mitchell admitted his rugby footballers were somewhat fortunate to keep their then 97-year unbeaten record against Ireland intact.
The All Blacks needed a late try from Leon McDonald to hang on for a nine-point win.
Ireland's points came from a Ronan O'Gara penalty and a Brian O'Driscoll drop-goal. O'Gara might have come in handy the following day in Suwon!
New Zealand: MacDonald; Howlett, Umaga, A Mauger, Ralph; Mehrtens, Marshall; Hewett, Hammett, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, McCaw, Robertson. Replacements: Lomu for Howlett, McDonnell for Hewett.
Ireland: Dempsey; Murphy, B O'Driscoll, Kelly, Bishop; O'Gara, Stringer; Corrigan, Wood, Hayes, O'Connell, Longwell, S Easterby, Gleeson, Foley. Replacements: O'Kelly for Longwell, Humphreys for O'Gara.
Referee: J Jutge (France).
June 22, 2002, Auckland: New Zealand 40 Ireland 8
It was another second-half onslaught that put paid to Irish hopes at Eden Park.
A Ronan O'Gara penalty had Ireland in touch at half-time, just 13-3 behind. But the hosts moved up the gears after the break with Gary Longwell's try Ireland's only punch landed.
New Zealand: L MacDonald; J Lomu, M Robinson, A Mauger, C Ralph; A Mehrtens, J Marshall; D Hewett, M Hammett, G Somerville, C Jack, N Maxwell, R Thorne (capt), R McCaw, S Robertson. Replacements: B Kelleher for Marshall, J McDonnell for Hewett, M Holah for McCaw, D Gibson for Robinson, D Howlett for Ralph, T Maling for Holah.
Ireland: G Dempsey; G Murphy, B O'Driscoll, J Kelly, J Bishop; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, K Wood (capt), J Hayes, G Longwell, M O’Kelly, S Easterby, K Gleeson, A Foley. Replacements: D Humphreys for O’Gara, A Quinlan for Gleeson, P Wallace for Corrigan, L Cullen for O’Kelly, S Byrne for Wood.
Referee: T Henning (South Africa); Sin Bin: A Quinlan (Ireland, 68-78)
June 10, 2006, Hamilton: New Zealand 34 Ireland 23
We were now over a century banging our heads against a Kiwi brick wall, and this defeat proved one of the more agonising losses for the travelling Irish.
Full-back Geordan Murphy lamented an opportunity lost as Troy Flavell crucial try sealed a gritty All Blacks victory. O'Gara helped himself to 13 points with the boot.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Howlett, Nonu, Mauger, Rokocoko; McAlister, Kelleher; Dermody, Mealamu, Hayman; Jack, Rawlinson, Holah, McCaw (captain), So'oialo. Replacements: Cowan for Kelleher, Kaino for Holah, Flavell for Rawlinson, Tialata for Dermody.
Ireland: G Murphy; Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Trimble; O'Gara, Stringer; Horan, Flannery, Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Connell; N Best, Wallace, Leamy. Replacements: Gleeson for Wallace, Dempsey for Murphy, M O'Driscoll for N Best. Sin-bin: Flannery (79)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia).
June 17, 2006, Auckland: New Zealand 27 Ireland 17
A Luke McAlister try - for five of his 14 points - slowed Ireland's roll in awful conditions at a rain-soaked Eden Park.
Paul O'Connell was in his Fear of God pomp and he went over for a try, as did his Munster mate Jerry Flannery. O'Gara added seven points. But it wasn't enough. The goose egg remained in the Irish 'Win' column.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Howlett, Laulala, Mauger, Rokocoko; McAlister, Kelleher; Dermody, Mealamu, Hayman; Jack, Flavell, Kaino, McCaw (capt), So'oialo. Replacements: Cowan, Rawlinson, Tialata, Hore, Newby, Hill, Nonu.
Ireland: G Murphy; Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Trimble; O'Gara, Stringer; Horan, Flannery, Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Connell; N Best, Wallace, Leamy. Replacements: R Best, Young, M O'Driscoll, Gleeson, Boss, Girvan Dempsey, Hickie.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SA)
June 7, 2008, Wellington: New Zealand 21 Ireland 11
"Battling Ireland's bid for their first win against New Zealand faltered at Wellington's Westpac Stadium," we informed you from these pages. Paddy Wallace went over for an unconverted try. O'Gara connected with a pair of penalties.
The usual platitudes could be found scattered throughout the various match reports after the 10-point loss. The Irish were "brave", "unyielding" and "defiant" as ever. But the New Zealand hoodoo had now stretched to 103 years.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Tuitavake, Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu; Carter, Ellis; Tialata, Hore, Afoa, Thorn, Williams, So'oialo, McCaw, Kaino. Replacements: MacDonald for Tuitavake, Mealamu for Hore, Schwalger for Afoa, Thomson for Kaino.
Ireland: Kearney; Horgan, B. O'Driscoll, P. Wallace, Bowe; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Connell, O'Callaghan, Leamy, D. Wallace, Heaslip. Replacements: Stringer for Reddan, Buckley for Horan, Best for Flannery, Jennings for Heaslip.
Referee: Chris White (England)
June 12, 2010, New Plymouth: New Zealand 66 Ireland 28
"I had a total brain-fart," Jamie Heaslip would later say, regarding his infamous red card at Yarrow Stadium.
The No8 appeared to drop a knee into Richie McCaw's head - and any Irish hopes of an upset win quickly dissolved. Brian O'Driscoll did mark the game by going over for his 40th Test try.
In other news that week - it wasn't quite a Saipan scandal, but Ireland management were forced to defend their choice of training bases in the lead-up to the New Plymouth tie.
New Zealand: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, B Stanley, J Rokocoko; D Carter, J Cowan; B Franks, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, A Boric, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: Guildford for Jane, Cruden for Carter, Weepu for Cowan, Tialata for B. Franks, de Malmanche for Mealamu, Whitelock for Thorn, Vito for Kaino.
Ireland: R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, A Trimble; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; C Healy, S Cronin, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Muldoon, D Wallace, J Heaslip. Replacements: G Murphy for Kearney, Sexton for O'Gara, Reddan for O'Leary, Court for Healy, Fogarty for Cronin, Tuohy for M O'Driscoll, Jennings for Muldoon.
June 9, 2012, Auckland: New Zealand 42 Ireland 10
The Irish Independent headline screamed: 'Ireland hammered in Auckland' after this lopsided affair at Eden Park.
Ireland were without Lions Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe and when they then lost prop Mike Ross through injury, a tall order became an insurmountable one.
New Zealand: I Dagg; Z Guildford, C Smith, S Williams, J Savea; D Carter, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks; B Retallick, S Whitelock; V Vito, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: P Weepu for for Smith, H Elliot for Hore, B Fanks for Franks, A Thomson for Vito.
Ireland: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O'Driscoll (capt), K Earls, S Zebo; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, D Fitzpatrick; D Tuohy, D Ryan; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: D Cave for Earls, E Reddan for Murray, R O'Gara for Sexton, S Cronin for Healy, R Loughney for Fitzpatrick, D O'Callaghan for Tuohy, K McLaughlin for O'Mahony.
Referee: N Owens
June 16, 2012, Christchurch: New Zealand 22 Ireland 19
The one that got away. A week after the Auckland mauling, Conor Murray's try had brought Ireland to a place they had never been before - leading the All Blacks 10-nil. Rarified air.
In the end, the visitors blinked first. A last-minute Dan Carter drop-goal broke Irish hearts. It would be a decade before the curse would finally be lifted.
New Zealand: Dagg, Guildford, C Smith, S Williams, Savea, Carter, A Smith, Woodcock, Hore, O Franks, Retallick, S Whitelock, Thomson, McCaw, Read Replacements: Elliot, B Franks, A Williams, Cane, Weepu, Cruden, B Smith.
Ireland: Kearney, McFadden, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best, Ross, Tuohy, Ryan, McLaughlin, O'Brien, Heaslip. Replacements: Cronin, Fitzpatrick, O'Callaghan, O'Mahony, Reddan, O'Gara, Zebo.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
June 23, 2012, Hamilton: New Zealand 60 Ireland 0
The darkest of days for Irish rugby. The Kiwis completed the series whitewash in emphatic, humiliating fashion, holding Ireland scoreless and running in nine tries. Merciless.
"We knew we had to start well and we didn't," a miserable Brian O'Driscoll offered after the record loss. It was a day when an Irish victory in New Zealand felt as far away as pluto.
New Zealand: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, H Gear; A Cruden, A Smith; T Woodcock, A Hore, O Franks, L Romano, S Whitelock, L Messam, S Cane, R McCaw (capt). Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, B Retallick, A Thomson, P Weepu, B Barrett, T Ellison.
Ireland: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O'Driscoll (capt), P Wallace, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Tuohy, D Ryan, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, P O'Mahoney. Replacements: S Cronin, D Fitzpatrick, D O'Callaghan, C Henry, E Reddan, R O'Gara, A Trimble.
July 2, 2022, Auckland: New Zealand 42 Ireland 19
A week is a long time in politics - just ask Boris Johnson. It's also a fair chunk of time in sport - just ask Ian Foster.
At Eden Park, an out-of-sorts Irish side could barely lay a glove on their hosts. Disconsolate Irish fans were left to lament what appeared an unbridgable gulf in class.
If only we knew then what we know now...
New Zealand: J Barrett; S Reece, R Ioane, Q Tupaea, L Fainga'anuku; B Barrett, A Smith; G Bower, C Taylor, O Tu'ungafasi; B Retallick, S Whitelock; S Barrett, S Cane (capt), A Savea. Replacements: S Taukei'aho, K Tu'inukuafe, A Ta'avao, P Gus Sowakula, D Papalii, F Christie, R Mo'unga, B Ennor.
Ireland: H Keenan; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; J Sexton, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; T Beirne, J Ryan; P O'Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris. Replacements: D Heffernan, C Healy, T O'Toole, K Treadwell, J Conan, C Murray, J Carbery, B Aki.
Referee: K Dickson (RFU)
