All Blacks v Ireland recap: Scott Robertson’s side begin Grand Slam tour with big win in Chicago
All the action as the All Blacks beat Ireland 26-13 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
To listen to the Alternative Commentary Collective click here.
That's all folks
Benjamin Plummer
Well, justice has been served by the All Blacks in the clash billed as The Rematch in Chicago.
The All Blacks have kept their demons of Soldier Field at bay, producing a strong second half effort to come from behind.
Their Grand Slam hopes remain alive as they head to Murrayfield to take on Scotland next week - who put 85 points on the scoreboard in their tune-up game against the United States this morning.
Thank you for joining our coverage of this chaotic Windy City clash. We'll be here throughout the day with more All Blacks content, so be sure to come back for that.
Until then, have a great Sunday New Zealand.
Liam Napier reports from Chicago's Soldier Field
Benjamin Plummer
'First half felt like an NFL game' - Scott Robertson
Benjamin Plummer
“It is special, we fought our way back into it,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson told Sky Sport.
“The first half felt like an NFL game, didn’t it? There were so many stoppages.
“We just couldn’t get any flow. The young crew came on and just kept playing, and played fearless. It was great to see us execute.
“It was an aerial game. We had forward momentum, kicked and we won a few then lost a few more than we’d have liked. They put pressure on us.
“Hell of a spectacle. Great to see so many Kiwis and Irish here, it’s a special stadium.”
'Nice to rectify' 2016 loss - Ardie Savea
Benjamin Plummer
Ardie Savea - who captained the All Blacks for 77 minutes after Scott Barrett went off early - told Sky Sport it was nice to rectify the 2016 loss.
“It’s cool to be here in Chicago, it’s always a good feeling when you come out with the win. We’ll be happy with that, we give credit to the Irish for tonight. Stoked with the win.
“It’s nice to come here and rectify [the 2016 loss]. We couldn’t get things going, that’s a credit to the Irish team for putting us under pressure.
“Once we started to get our flow, things started to go our way. We’ll look at that, but overall [I’m] happy.
“We have to win game by game, the next focus is Scotland. The Grand Slam will take care of itself if we take it week by week.”
'Massive game for us' - Fabian Holland
Benjamin Plummer
Fabian Holland has been named man of the match for the All Blacks.
Speaking to Sky Sport, Holland called it a "massive game" for the All Blacks.
“Thanks to everyone for coming out, it means the world to us.
“Credit to Ireland, an absolute quality side. Just stoked to get the win, credit to the boys, they were awesome.
“We wanted to make a statement at the start of this tour, hopefully we were able to do that. We talked all week about backing each other up, and being there for each other. That’s what we did.”
Grand Slam hopes alive
Benjamin Plummer
A strong second half from the All Blacks have seen them come from behind, and hold on to beat Ireland 26-13.
It may not have been overly convincing, but it's redemption nonetheless for the historic 2016 loss.
The All Blacks' hopes for Grand Slam glory remain alive and will head to Murrayfield in Edinburgh next week.
Fulltime
Benjamin Plummer
The All Blacks make a break and it looks like a spectacular try for Fainga'anuku near the right touchline, but a pass in the lead-up is called forward by the referee.
That will be all she wrote!
Benjamin Plummer
It's very slow ball for the All Blacks, but they don't want it to be over just yet.
Benjamin Plummer
The clock is in the red now, but the All Blacks want one more.
Savea puts on a strong fend but the All Blacks aren't making too much ground. They're back near Ireland's 40m line now.
Benjamin Plummer
Into the final minute now as Ireland win the scrum.
A loose pass in the backline sees the All Blacks pounce on a loose ball and make their way up to Ireland's 22.
Benjamin Plummer
Two minutes remain as Ireland restart.
The All Blacks secure it and look to wind down the clock. Savea goes on a strong run and Ireland are penalised. They're marched 10m for talking back to the referee.
It's a shocker of a kick from Barrett, who puts the ball dead.
Ireland will have the scrum near halfway.
All Blacks Try
Benjamin Plummer
That will be it!
The scrum is strong from the All Blacks and Roigard takes it off the back. Roigard goes himself and breaks two tackles before crashing over.
Barrett can't convert.
Benjamin Plummer
It's very messy from Ireland as they try to run it from their goal line.
Bundee Aki attempts a long cutout pass, but it's knocked on by Ireland! The All Blacks have a scrum 5m away from the tryline.
Benjamin Plummer
Barrett finds touch 10m out from the tryline.
The lineout throw from Taukei'aho is called not straight. That's another one lost by the All Blacks.
Ireland have the scrum with six minutes remaining. They need to score very soon, but are 90m away from the All Blacks tryline.
Benjamin Plummer
Fainga'anuku makes a break down the right touchline and gets away a good pass to Sititi before he's collected in a big tackle.
The All Blacks look strong as Caleb Clarke takes it into Ireland's 22. Will Jordan attempts a basketball pass, but it's knocked on.
They were playing under penalty advantage so go back to that.
Benjamin Plummer
Roigard feeds the scrum and the All Blacks win the penalty.
Pasilio Tosi has snuck on the field for Newell.
Barrett's kick doesn't find touch and the Ireland run it up towards halfway.
They've turned it over again though as the All Blacks have it on halfway and play under penalty advantage.
Benjamin Plummer
It's a good scrum and Ireland are on the attack inside the All Blacks' 22.
There's a knock on call that has come from the sideline so the referee comes back for that against Ireland. Another turnover in good field possession.
Benjamin Plummer
Sam Prendergast has come on for Crowley and restarts for Ireland.
The kickoff is originally won by the All Blacks but Tupaea knocks it on.
The Irish have the scrum feed 22m out from the tryline.
All Blacks Try
Benjamin Plummer
The All Blacks win another lineout and are on the attack with some momentum.
McKenzie almost spills it but hangs on as the All Blacks get up towards Ireland's 22.
They go right this time and Barrett evades an Irish defender before getting a great ball away to McKenzie. McKenzie has one to beat and find Sititi on the inside who goes over to score under the posts.
Barrett adds the extras from in front.
Benjamin Plummer
It's a messy scrum but the All Blacks win it and they go left to Clarke who has acres of space! He surges up to halfway before kicking ahead.
Ireland get back and are able to scramble an exit kick up towards halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
Damian McKenzie is on the field for Leroy Carter. Mckenzie slots into fullback and Will Jordan shifts to the wing.
Benjamin Plummer
Crowley's restart is a good one and pins the All Blacks deep in their own half.
Roigard shapes up for the box kick but it's charged by Ireland, and they recover just outside the All Blacks' 22.
Ireland spread it left to Lowe and then back into the midfield, but it's strong defence from the All Blacks.
Crowley puts ahead a chip and it's well chased by Tommy O'Brien, who almost recovers it for Ireland, but knocks it on 5m out from the tryline.
All Blacks Try
Benjamin Plummer
Taylor taps and pops a short ball to Sititi, who goes very close. Tamaiti Williams goes quickly off the ruck and crashes over.
Barrett converts from the right of the posts.
The All Blacks have the lead for the first time in the match.
Benjamin Plummer
The lineout is good and the All Blacks set a maul.
It's distributed to the backline and Barrett is collected in a big tackle again by Ringrose! Barrett's head snapped back from the impact.
The referee comes back for a lineout penalty, but the tackle on Barrett is checked. There's no foul play.
The All Blacks will tap here.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland win the lineout but lose the ball in phase play. Jordan kicks deep, putting the Irish under pressure and the All Blacks win the penalty for not releasing.
Mammoth effort from Tupaea there.
Barrett goes to touch and it will be an All Blacks throw 7m out from the tryline.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland get the scrum penalty for a pre-engagement by the All Blacks.
They kick for touch and find it about 30m from the All Blacks' tryline.
Sititi comes back on for Parker, this time as a genuine replacement.
Benjamin Plummer
Taylor's throw is stolen by Ireland again.
Gibson-Park puts up another high bomb and it's won by Leroy Carter this time.
The All Blacks work their way into Ireland's half before a short ball is knocked on by Will Jordan.
Tempers are boiling over a little on Soldier Field.
Benjamin Plummer
Into the 56th minute in Chicago and the Irish crowd have found their voice, as singing echoes around the ground.
The All Blacks are awarded a scrum penalty and Barrett gets them into Irish half.
Bundee Aki has come onto the field. Expect some fireworks in the Irish midfield.
Benjamin Plummer
James Ryan takes down the lineout for Ireland and they set a good-looking maul before the ball spills out.
It's another turnover by Ireland as the All Blacks are awarded a scrum.
Benjamin Plummer
It's a quick restart from Barrett and Clarke wins it on the left wing. They send it back right to Carter on the right touchline.
They start to string some plays together before it's knocked on and a game of kick tennis ensues.
A long kick from Lowe pins Will Jordan near the All Blacks' tryline and he scrambles a pass to Barrett who kicks it into the stands.
Ireland have a lineout near the All Blacks' 40m line.
Ireland Penalty
Benjamin Plummer
No mistake from Crowley this time as he extends Ireland's lead to six.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland win their own lineout this time and surprise, surprise, Gibson-Park goes for the exit box kick.
Lowe wins the contest for Ireland and now they're hot on attack inside the All Blacks' half.
The All Blacks are penalised for not rolling away in the ruck. And they're marched 10m for back-chat against the referee! Schoolboy error.
Ireland have a shot at goal 22m out, straight in front of the posts.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland secure the restart on halfway before sending a kick down towards Barrett. Barrett exits well and finds touch deep inside Ireland's half.
Benjamin Plummer
Crowley's attempt sails to the left.
Tamaiti Williams will replace Ethan de Groot for the All Blacks as Barrett restarts from the 22.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland secure the scrum again and McCloskey attacks the line again.
The All Blacks are penalised for being offside. It looks like Barrett was the one who was pinged.
Ireland will line up a shot at goal here from 40m out.
Benjamin Plummer
Josh Lord steals the subsequent Irish lineout and the All Blacks distribute it to the left touchline, but it's knocked on by Clarke this time.
Messy start to the second half here. Ireland have the scrum on halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland win the lineout but lose the ball a couple of phases later. Savea was over the ball quick.
Barrett exits up towards halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
Gibson-Park feeds the scrum and Ireland work the blindside through Crowley. Ryan Baird flirts with the left touchline as he makes his way into the All Blacks' 22.
Ireland are building well here before they stab through a grubber, but it's cleaned up by Jordan.
Ireland return a kick through Lowe and Roigard attempts to exit but shanks it. Ireland have a throw on the All Blacks' 22.
Benjamin Plummer
Taylor's thrown is won by the All Blacks and they work their way into Ireland's half.
It's spread to Fainga'anuku who drops it cold. It looked like he wasn't expecting it.
Ireland have a scrum feed just inside the All Blacks' half.
Benjamin Plummer
McCloskey takes it down for Ireland and Gibson-Park exits well towards halfway.
Simon Parker is back on the field for the All Blacks.
Second half
Benjamin Plummer
We're all set for the second half in Chicago. Will we see a repeat of 2016 or can the All Blacks come from behind?
For viewers at home, perhaps confused by Sky's commentary, Caleb Clarke is on the left wing for the All Blacks, not Bundee Aki.
Barrett will get us underway.
While you wait
Benjamin Plummer
Are you a diehard All Blacks fan? Feel free to get stuck into our All Blacks tight five quiz before the chaos starts again.
Player stats
Cameron McMillan
Carries
Stuart McCloskey 9
Will Jordan 6
Ardie Savea 6
James Lowe 5
Tackles completed
Codie Taylor 10
Fletcher Newell 10
Josh van der Flier 9
Jack Conan 7
Metres gained
Caleb Clarke 61
Stuart McCloskey 46
Will Jordan 39
Jack Cowley 20
Turnovers won
Josh van der Flier 1
Quinn Tupaea 1
Benjamin Plummer
Gibson-Park has had a mammoth half for Ireland, pinning the All Blacks down and exiting well with his boot.
As for the All Blacks, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan have both looked particularly dangerous with ball in hand.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland have turned up to play in the Windy City and hold the lead at halftime in what has been a very stop-start opening 40.
The All Blacks lost two Barrett brothers early in the game, both Scott and Jordie to knee injuries, and Simon Parker to a head injury.
Irish lock Tadhg Beirne has been ruled out of the match after he was shown a yellow card in the third minute for a dangerous tackle on Beauden Barrett - which was later questionably upgraded to a red.
The All Blacks have struggled under the high ball, but have been lucky to escape mostly unscathed, with Ireland giving away six turnovers.
Both lineouts are looking shaky.
Halftime stats
Cameron McMillan
Territory
Ireland 52% All Blacks 48%
Possession
Ireland 52% All Blacks 48%
Penalties conceded
Ireland 4 All Blacks 6
Tackles made
Ireland 58 All Blacks 64
Tackles missed
Ireland 9 All Blacks 8
Carries
Ireland 49 All Blacks 43
Linebreaks
Ireland 0 All Blacks 0
Turnovers lost
Ireland 6 All Blacks 5
Halftime
Benjamin Plummer
It's stolen at the lineout again by the All Blacks. They pin Ireland back in their own half and Jamie Osborne sends a kick into the stands.
That will be all she wrote for the first 40.
Benjamin Plummer
It'll only be a penalty, much to the dismay of the crowd. Ireland have another lineout in the All Blacks' half.
Benjamin Plummer
Sheehan's throw is picked off by Holland for the All Blacks. It's spread to the backline to Fainga'anuku, who takes some stopping by Ireland.
The All Blacks aren't making too much headway here, so Roigard puts up a box kick.
Tommy O'Brien takes it down for Ireland and is taken in a big tackle by Clarke.
Ireland threaten down the left touchline but are taken out.
The referee is going back for a penalty against Clarke in his tackle.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland have a lineout 40m away from the All Blacks tryline again.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland are awarded a free kick at scrum time. It's Newell who was pinged.
Crowley puts up a high kick but it's too far and Will Jordan calls mark inside the All Blacks' 22.
They trade kicks again and Barrett calls mark this time.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland go to their backs straight away and a loose pass from Crowley is cleaned up by Lowe.
Lowe opts to kick through but it goes too far and rolls over the dead ball line. The All Blacks will have a scrum feed near halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
Seven minutes remain in the opening half as Ireland win the lineout. They make it up to halfway before Gibson-Park goes to the heavens again.
It's knocked on by the All Blacks in the contest, then by Ireland a couple of phases later so the referee comes back.
Ireland have the feed 40m out from the tryline.
Benjamin Plummer
Crowley gets Ireland up to their own 40m line off the back of the penalty.
Irish lock James Ryan has left the field for a head injury assessment.
Benjamin Plummer
Simon Parker has left the field for a head injury assessment and is replaced by Wallace Sititi.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland are under pressure at the lineout but clean it up. Gibson-Park goes to the boot again and it's partially charged by Holland, who is penalised for being offside.
Ireland is given a gift inside their own 22 again.
Benjamin Plummer
Barrett goes short and it's won by Clarke. The sides trade kicks and the All Blacks have it in their own half.
Barrett stabs a deep kick into Ireland's territory, but it's cleaned up by James Lowe.
The kicking battle ends as Barrett finds touch just outside Ireland's 22.
Benjamin Plummer
The Irish forwards are happy to run it straight up the guts here, building multiple phases before Crowley puts through a grubber.
It goes too far and Barrett grounds it inside their own goal line, so it'll be a goal line dropout.
Benjamin Plummer
Good scrum from Ireland and Gibson-Park finds Stuart McCloskey, surging onto a short ball.
Ireland work their way up to the All Blacks' 40m line.
Benjamin Plummer
More trouble at lineout time for the All Blacks! Taylor's throw is called not straight this time.
Ireland will take the scrum near halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
Codie Taylor's throw is picked off by Ireland. It's a huge exit kick from Gibson-Park near his own tryline and it goes into touch near halfway.
Benjamin Plummer
It's a good touch finder from Barrett. The All Blacks have a throw in 5m out.
Benjamin Plummer
The All Blacks are awarded a free kick at the scrum and Barrett puts up a contestable bomb, but it's won well by Ireland.
The Irish make their way up to halfway before kicking it back to the All Blacks. The All Blacks run it but Ireland's defence is strong.
Roigard goes to the air and Clarke contests but it's won by Ireland. The Irish are penalised for a neck roll just inside their own half.
Benjamin Plummer
The thrown for Sheehan is not straight and the All Blacks are given a lifeline.
Ireland are back to 15 players now.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland win the four-man lineout and they waste no time getting it to the backs. They go to the air and Barrett can't take down the contestable.
Ireland have it near the All Blacks 22 before Lakai charges it down, boots it ahead and sprints after it.
Ireland get back and clean it up inside their own half before Barrett is penalised for tackling a man on the ground.
They find touch near the All Blacks 22.
Benjamin Plummer
Crowley restarts and finds Barrett, who kicks straight into touch just inside the All Blacks' half.
All Blacks Try
Benjamin Plummer
Taylor throws to the front of the lineout and Savea wins it. The All Blacks are under penalty advantage and spread it to the left.
Fainga'anuku takes on the line and gets an outrageous offload away to Will Jordan who surges into the 22.
They use it quickly and spread it back right. It finds Ardie Savea who pins his ears back and scores in the corner.
What a try! Barrett converts from the sideline.
Benjamin Plummer
Well a man down and Ireland are on top.
Beauden Barrett restarts and Gibson-Park exits well again, finding touch near Ireland's 40m line.
Ireland Try
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland win the lineout and are on the attack. They look strong as they run it through their forwards.
Gibson-Park gives a short ball to prop Tadhg Furlong who crashes over for the opening try!
Crowley converts from the right of the posts.
Benjamin Plummer
Jordie Barrett has unsurprisingly left the field and is replaced by Leicester Fainga'anuku.
Benjamin Plummer
Gibson-Park exits off the lineout. James Lowe wins the contest for Ireland and they storm into the All Blacks half.
Ireland is looking good here and they're awarded a penalty near the All Blacks 22.
There's a bit of push and shove between Gibson-Park and Codie Taylor. A classic halfback on hooker clash.
Ireland turn down the points and go for touch.
Benjamin Plummer
The throw is good and the All Blacks attack. It's spread left to Leroy Carter for his first touch on the right wing but he's taken into touch.
Ireland have the throw on their 22.
Benjamin Plummer
It's a dominant All Blacks scrum and they're awarded a penalty.
Barrett goes for touch quickly and finds it on Ireland's 40m line.
Benjamin Plummer
After a lengthy stoppage, Jordie Barrett will stay on the field. He doesn't look comfortable at all.
The game restarts as he's limping back to position.
Benjamin Plummer
Sheehan's throw is won by Ireland and they surge into the All Blacks' half. Gibson-Park puts up a contestable kick and Beauden Barrett can't take it cleanly, but it's knocked on by Ireland inside the All Blacks' 22.
It'll be a scrum for the All Blacks.
Jordie Barrett has gone down in a heap here! He's clutching at his leg, it doesn't look good.
Benjamin Plummer
The All Blacks are penalised on their own throw in. Ireland kick for touch but don't find it and the All Blacks return fire.
Ireland have it on halfway before Crowley kicks deep, but Jordan is there and calls mark inside the All Blacks' 22.
He kicks for touch and finds it near halfway.
Ireland's card upgraded to red
Benjamin Plummer
Tadhg Beirne will not return! The TMO has decided the degree of danger was high and the yellow card is upgraded to red!
What a huge moment in this game.
Benjamin Plummer
Ireland disrupt the All Blacks throw but knock it on. The All Blacks play under advantage here.
It's spread left to Clarke who makes a break down the sideline but it's turned over by Ireland.
Gibson-Park gives it to Crowley who attempts a crossfield kick, but it sails out on the full.
Benjamin Plummer
Barrett restarts for the All Blacks and it's taken down by Ireland inside their 22.
Gibson-Park exits again with a good kick, finding touch up near halfway.
Ireland Penalty
Benjamin Plummer
Jack Crowley goes for the points and nails it from over 40m out. Ireland kick off the scoring.
Benjamin Plummer
Taylor's throw in is good this time and Holland wins it for the All Blacks. They set a maul but go nowhere so Roigard distributes to the backline.
It finds Caleb Clarke who breaks through the line and surges into Ireland's half. He tries to find Roigard on the inside but it's knocked on.
The referee comes back for a penalty against Quinn Tupaea for shepherding, leading to Clarke's linebreak.
Benjamin Plummer
Jamison Gibson-Park feeds the scrum for Ireland and boots it straight off the back. It's a great touch finder inside New Zealand's half.
Benjamin Plummer
The throw is not straight from Codie Taylor! The All Blacks have blown a golden opportunity for early points there.
Ireland will feed the scrum inside their 22.
Benjamin Plummer
The All Blacks turn down a handy shot at goal and will have a lineout 10m out from the Irish line.
Ireland Yellow Card
Benjamin Plummer
Irish lock Tadhg Beirne is shown yellow! It was a terrible attempt at a tackle on Beauden Barrett - he didn't use any arms and connected with Barrett's head.
A few technical difficulties with Soldier Field's big screens have stopped play for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Scott Barrett has left the field early with what is believed to be a knee injury. He'll be replaced by Josh Lord. Ardie Savea takes over as captain for the All Blacks.
Benjamin Plummer
They take down the lineout and are into their work inside Ireland's 22.
A lot of forward play early on before Beauden Barrett is smoked in a big tackle. He stays down, as does Scott Barrett.
The referee stops play and is looking at the tackle on Beauden.
Benjamin Plummer
First lineout of the match is a messy one from Ireland and the All Blacks steal it.
Slick hands early from the All Blacks as Jordan attacks the line. Ireland are penalised for not releasing.
Beauden Barrett opts for touch, so it'll be an All Blacks throw on Ireland's 22.
Benjamin Plummer
Will Jordan takes down the opening kick. The All Blacks take it inside the 22 and Roigard gets a good clearance away, finding touch on Ireland's 10m line.
Kickoff
Benjamin Plummer
And we're away in Chicago.
Jack Crowley kicks us off.
Benjamin Plummer
Haka time. Codie Taylor leads Kapa o Pango as Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight' plays in the stadium.
The Irish fans do their best to drown out the haka.
All you need to know
Scott Robertson’s side begin their quest to become the fifth All Blacks side to win a Grand Slam, and it starts in Chicago, of all places. Not your typical launching pad for a Grand Slam (the 1978 side started their tour at Cambridge University).
But it’s a significant venue for these two sides, with Soldier Field being the scene of Ireland’s famous 40-29 victory over the All Blacks in 2016, their maiden win against New Zealand. Since then, it’s turned into a decent rivalry with a 5-5 split across the last 10 tests.
The All Blacks head to the US on the back of two wins to end the Rugby Championship while Ireland last played in July against Portugal (106-7) and Georgia (34-5), however most of their players were involved in the British and Irish Lions tour. Ireland finished third in the Six Nations.
All Blacks v Ireland history
Played – 38
All Blacks won – 32
Ireland won – 5
Draws – 1
All Blacks points scored – 1064
Ireland points scored – 529
All Blacks v Ireland line-ups
All Blacks team to play Ireland
1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Fletcher Newell, 4 Scott Barrett (Captain), 5 Fabian Holland, 6 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Peter Lakai, 9 Cam Roigard, 10 Beauden Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 14 Leroy Carter, 15 Will Jordan. Reserves: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima 22 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Ireland side to place All Blacks
1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (captain), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. James Ryan, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Jack Crowley, 11. James Lowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Garry Ringrose, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 15. Jamie Osborne. Reserves: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Caelan Doris, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Sam Prendergast, 23. Bundee Aki.
All Blacks v Ireland last time they met
Ireland’s quest for redemption turned to a horror movie as the All Blacks humbled their arch-rivals with an underdogs triumph in Dublin.
Some 13 months on, 392 days to be exact, the pain of last year’s dramatic World Cup quarter-final defeat will linger for Ireland.
Handing Ireland their first home defeat after a 19-test winning run, and securing their first victory in Dublin for eight years, the All Blacks upstaged the world’s top-ranked nation.
Summoning their best performance of the year to snatch their most significant scalp, the All Blacks fully deserved this victory after overcoming adversity – recovering on a six-day turnaround, Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor’s notable absences and a first-half yellow card for Jordie Barrett – to dominate Andy Farrell’s vaunted Ireland.
All Blacks v Ireland last 10 meetings
2024 – All Blacks 23 Ireland 13, Dublin
2023 – All Blacks 28 Ireland 24, Paris
2022 – Ireland 32 All Blacks 22, Wellington
2022 – Ireland 23 All Blacks 12, Dunedin
2022 – All Blacks 42 Ireland 19, Auckland
2021 – Ireland 29 All Blacks 20, Dublin
2019 – All Blacks 46 Ireland 14, Tokyo
2018 – Ireland 16 All Blacks 9, Dublin
2016 – All Blacks 21 Ireland 9, Dublin
2016 – Ireland 40 All Blacks 29, Chicago
Form guide (past five tests)
All Blacks: W, W, L, W, L
Ireland: W, W, L, W, W
All Blacks’ record in Chicago
2014 – All Blacks 74 USA 6
2016 – All Blacks 29 Ireland 40
All Blacks v Ireland referee
Frenchman Pierre Brousset will referee the All Blacks’ opening Grand Slam test against Ireland in Chicago on November 2. He’s already officiated an All Blacks victory in 2025, being in charge of their 41-24 win in Córdoba.
All Blacks v Ireland TAB odds
All Blacks: $1.47 Draw: $21 Ireland: $2.60
All Blacks Grand Slam schedule
Sunday, November 2, 9.10am – All Blacks v Ireland, Soldier Field, Chicago
Sunday, November 9, 4.10am – All Blacks v Scotland, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Sunday, November 16, 4.10am - All Blacks v England, Twickenham, London
Sunday, November 23, 4.10am – All Blacks v Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
All Blacks v Ireland – how to follow the action
For live commentary of All Blacks v Ireland, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio, plus the Alternative Commentary Collective will be providing commentary on their iHeartRadio stream.
You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.
You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.