All Blacks Crush Ireland 40-21 at Eden Park
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- All Blacks ran in six tries through Tuipulotu, Savea, Jordan, Aumua, McKenzie and Lienert-Brown to beat Ireland 40-21 at Eden Park and finish their Nations Championship home block with three wins from three.
- Ireland were without 12 players through injury and scored three tries (Conan, McCarthy, Keenan) but twice closed within 14 points without ever landing a bonus-point fourth score.
- Luke Jacobson received a yellow card after an off-field review for a dangerous clearout to the head of a prone Josh van der Flier but escaped an upgraded red, a decision the article notes came as a 'huge surprise'.
- Andy Farrell labelled Ireland's display 'inaccurate' post-match, pointing to spilled ball, throws into touch and discipline breakdowns as the reasons they failed to flow against New Zealand.
- Damian McKenzie, named Player of the Match, said it was 'our most physical Test of summer' and praised the second-half grind against a 'tough' Irish side.
Why it matters: The result seals New Zealand's perfect home record in rugby's new Nations Championship and exposes how badly Ireland's 12-strong injury list depleted their attacking game. Ireland close their season with two defeats on the bounce ahead of a critical 15-month window Farrell flagged as 'priceless' for developing fringe players.
