Ireland face New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday in the Nations Championship, where the All Blacks are unbeaten in 52 Tests across 32 years. Their last visit in 2022 ended in a 42-19 defeat, though Ireland later won the series.

Former scrum-half Conor Murray describes the venue as "daunting" and highlights a potential "small 1%" advantage: Ireland's short turnaround after two weeks in Australia limits exposure to New Zealand's "suffocating" rugby obsession. Paul Marshall, who toured in 2012, called the atmosphere "suffocating," noting rugby dominates every conversation.

Despite bonus-point wins over Australia and Japan, Ireland showed flaws, particularly in the set piece against Japan. Head coach Andy Farrell admitted the scoreline flattered his side. Murray warns that even a strong performance may not suffice at Eden Park, citing 2022 when Ireland "played really well" yet lost heavily.