New Zealand v Ireland: The 'small 1%' that could help break Eden Park run

New Zealand’s Eden Park is set to be tested again when Ireland takes on the All Blacks in the Nations Championship in Auckland on Saturday. The ground’s record looms large: New Zealand has been unbeaten in 52 Tests over 32 years, underscoring why Eden Park is widely described as a fortress. Ireland previously tried to break the streak in 2022 and was routed 42-19, with Eden Park remaining unbreached even when Ireland later won a series on New Zealand soil for the first time. Even experienced players say the environment is daunting, with roughly 60,000 fans and floodlights illuminating the pitch. Conor Murray, who faced New Zealand there in 2012 and again a decade later, recalled that the All Blacks scored 40 points across those games. Murray also compared the challenge to elite venues like Twickenham, saying Eden Park is simply another level.