The Ireland captain, Dan Sheehan, says that Andy Farrell’s squad must create their own history as they prepare to face New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday at 08:10 BST.
The All Blacks have remained unbeaten at their Auckland stronghold since 1994. Although Ireland secured a Test series victory on foreign soil in 2022, they fell to New Zealand in the opening match of a three‑match series.
They responded with a historic away victory over the All Blacks in Dunedin and later captured the series in Wellington.
While New Zealand’s dominance at their iconic Auckland fortress has fueled speculation ahead of the match, Sheehan maintains that this narrative has not been a primary focus.
“It’s a remarkable record, yet our priority is to unleash the best version of the squad we have assembled this year, and we believe we are capable of doing so,” the 27‑year‑old Leinster hooker said.
“If we can fully realize the potential within our squad, we can deliver a standout performance and aim to win,” he added. “They are an extraordinary team, particularly at home, and any strong showing in New Zealand will be memorable. We intend to emulate that level of excellence.
“They are an extraordinary team, especially at home, and any impressive performance on New Zealand soil will be memorable. We aim to recreate that level of excellence.
“Our squad features many players who were not part of the previous tour, so we must write our own history.”
