​Ireland captain Dan Sheehan says Andy Farrell’s side must make their own history when they face New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday. The All Blacks have not been beaten at their Auckland fortress since 1994, and while Ireland did win a Test series on away soil in 2022, they lost the opening match at Eden Park in that three-test series. They followed that setback with an away win in Dunedin, marking Ireland’s first victory against the All Blacks away from home, and then sealed the series in Wellington. As talk around New Zealand’s storied home venue swirls, Sheehan stresses that the emphasis should not be on the famous tally but on the Ireland squad itself. “It’s a special record, but we’re trying to get the best out of the group we’ve seen this year, and we think we have it in us,” said the 27-year-old Leinster hooker. “If we can unleash the capabilities in the squad, it will be a great game, and hopefully we come out on top. They are an incredible outfit, especially at home, so any good performance on New Zealand soil is something to remember. We will be looking to recreate that. We’ve a new group here, and a lot of the lads weren’t part of that tour, so we’ve got to make our own history.”
Ireland have taken maximum points from their opening Nations Championship matches against Australia and Japan, but concerns have been raised about the quality of those performances as they prepare for the sternest test of this Southern Hemisphere phase of the competition. Sheehan remains hopeful that the team can put everything together against Dave Rennie’s side, who also enter the clash with a clean slate after beating France and Italy. “Performances haven’t been where we wanted, but we have a great opportunity to bring it all together for a big game tomorrow,” Sheehan said. “Everyone is excited, and it’s been in the calendar for a while, so a fantastic chance to finish the season on a high. We’ve seen improvements across all our campaigns this year. We had a slow start, then built nicely through it, so hopefully we’ll get the best out of tomorrow, because New Zealand are playing good rugby and flying high in this stadium.”
There could be a memorable moment for Sean Jansen, the Ireland-born back row who has been named among the replacements. The 27-year-old Connacht player qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents and marked his international debut with a try in last weekend’s win over Japan. Sheehan paid tribute to Jansen, noting, “It’s my first campaign with Sean, and what a player. Every time we face him with Connacht, he’s the one you have to manage. He’s a powerfully efficient ball-carrier with energy for days, and I thought he was outstanding last week for a debut—stand out and do your thing, and he did it in spades.” Sheehan also emphasized the importance of handling the pressure and rising to the occasion against a formidable opponent. “It could be a special day for a player who grew up in New Zealand but now represents Ireland,” he said, adding that the team’s collective mindset centers on controlling what they can influence, executing their game plan, and leaving Eden Park with a performance that reflects their ambition.
As the teams prepare to kickoff, all eyes will be on whether Ireland can translate momentum from earlier rounds into a performance that breaks New Zealand’s long-standing home dominance. The match promises high intensity, with both sides keen to showcase the evolving strengths of their squads. If Ireland can combine disciplined defense with attacking efficiency and capitalize on opportunities, they could forge their own chapter in this storied fixture and leave Eden Park with a landmark result that resonates well beyond the Nations Championship.