THE FORTRESS
Irish take on All Blacks in
The All Blacks’ winning streak at Eden Park has become the stuff of legend and will be tested again tonight.
The team’s run of 46 games unbeaten — 40 wins and two draws — will be challenged by Ireland at the Ta¯maki Makaurau stadium in the first of three matches to be played this month.
The All Blacks’ streak at Eden Park is almost double that of the second-best effort, held by England playing at Twickenham between 1999 and 2003.
The New Zealand men’s team’s last loss at the stadium was 23-20 to France in 1994. Their history on the Auckland turf has confirmed their position as strong favourites with the bookies.
TAB is offering $1.27 on an All Blacks win, whereas Ireland are sitting at $3.70. A draw is paying $21.
However, Ireland will fancy themselves as being capable of putting an end to the Eden Park dynasty, having beaten the All Blacks 29-20 in their last meeting at the end of last year’s northern tour.
The game’s quality shouldn’t be compromised by poor winter weather.
Only partial showers are forecast during an overcast evening with southerlies dying out in the afternoon.
Those not at the stadium will be able to watch from their living rooms on Sky Sport 1 from 6pm and listen on NZME’s Gold Sport radio. Regardless of the result, the game will hold special meaning for several reasons.
Veteran Sam Whitelock will make his 133rd appearance for the men in black, surpassing former hooker Keven Mealamu to become the second most-capped All Blacks test player of all time behind Richie McCaw (148).
Winger Leicester Fainga’anuku will make his debut while Pita Gus Sowakula will do the same off the bench.
They will be running out to a packed Eden Park with 48,000 expected to be in the sold-out crowd.
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said tonight’s game would benefit not just the economy but local community members as well.
“Major events have proven positive impacts on the economy, but you can’t put a figure on the benefits of community morale or a sense of belonging,” he said.