In June 2012, Ireland toured New Zealand playing three Tests against the All Blacks.Kiwis to face Ireland in Christchurch espnscrum.com The Irish tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations. It was marketed as the 'Steinlager Series'.
In planning the series, it was anticipated that Ireland would also face provincial and Māori opposition, however, to allow Ireland to focus on the Tests, the IRFU decided that there would be no mid-week fixtures.Irish snub NZ game plan independent.ie
New Zealand won the series 3–0. In the third and final Test in Hamilton on 23 June, the All Blacks won 60–0, inflicting upon Ireland their largest-ever defeat.
Test matches
First Test
FB 15Israel DaggRW 14Zac Guildford OC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Sonny Bill WilliamsLW 11Julian Savea FH 10Dan Carter SH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Victor Vito RL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Hika Elliot PR 17Ben Franks LK 18Ali Williams FL 19Adam Thomson SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Aaron Cruden WG 22Ben Smith Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Fergus McFaddenOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Keith Earls LW 11Simon ZeboFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 Donnacha Ryan LL 4 Dan Tuohy TP 3 Declan Fitzpatrick HK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Ronan Loughney LK 18Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19Kevin McLaughlin SH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara OC 22Darren Cave Coach: Declan Kidney Touch judges: Jaco Peyper James Leckie Television match official: Matt Goddard
Three players made their full international debut for New Zealand: Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea and Aaron Smith. Three players made their full international debut for Ireland: Simon Zebo, Declan Fitzpatrick and Ronan Loughney.
Second Test
FB 15Israel Dagg RW 14Zac GuildfordOC 13Conrad SmithIC 12Sonny Bill WilliamsLW 11Julian Savea FH 10Dan CarterSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Kieran Read OF 7 Richie McCaw (c)BF 6 Adam Thomson RL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Andrew HoreLP 1 Tony WoodcockReplacements:HK 16Hika ElliotPR 17Ben Franks LK 18Ali Williams LK 19Sam Cane SH 20Piri Weepu FH 21Aaron CrudenWG 22Ben Smith Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Fergus McFaddenOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Johnny SextonSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Seán O'BrienBF 6 Kevin McLaughlin RL 5 Donnacha RyanLL 4 Dan Tuohy TP 3 Mike RossHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Cian HealyReplacements:HK 16Seán CroninPR 17Declan FitzpatrickLK 18Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19Peter O'Mahony SH 20Eoin Reddan FH 21Ronan O'Gara WG 22Simon ZeboCoach: Declan Kidney Touch judges: Romain Poite Pascal Gauzere Television match official: Matt Goddard
This was Ireland's first Test match in Christchurch. Sam Cane made his international debut for New Zealand.
Third Test
FB 15 Israel DaggRW 14 Ben SmithOC 13 Conrad Smith IC 12 Sonny Bill WilliamsLW 11 Hosea GearFH 10 Aaron Cruden SH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Richie McCaw (c)OF 7 Sam Cane BF 6 Liam MessamRL 5 Sam Whitelock LL 4 Luke RomanoTP 3 Owen FranksHK 2 Andrew Hore LP 1 Tony Woodcock Replacements:HK 16 Keven Mealamu PR 17 Ben Franks LK 18 Brodie Retallick FL 19 Adam Thomson SH 20 Piri Weepu FH 21 Beauden Barrett IC 22 Tamati Ellison Coach: Steve Hansen FB 15 Rob Kearney RW 14 Fergus McFaddenOC 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12 Paddy Wallace LW 11 Keith Earls FH 10 Johnny SextonSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Peter O'MahonyOF 7 Seán O'BrienBF 6 Kevin McLaughlin RL 5 Donnacha RyanLL 4 Dan Tuohy TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Cian HealyReplacements:HK 16 Seán Cronin PR 17 Declan Fitzpatrick LK 18 Donncha O'Callaghan FL 19 Chris Henry SH 20 Eoin Reddan FH 21 Ronan O'Gara WG 22 Andrew Trimble Coach: Declan Kidney Touch judges: Pascal Gauzere James Leckie Television match official: Matt Goddard
New Zealand's 60–0 victory was their largest-ever winning margin against Ireland.All Blacks complete series sweep over Ireland with record breaking win, Radio New Zealand, Updated 24 June 2012. This remains Ireland's largest ever defeat. Beauden Barrett made his international debut for New Zealand.
Touring squad Ireland's 30-man squad for the three-Test tour of New Zealand. Ireland's initial squad for the clash against the Barbarians was announced on 15 May, no Leinster players were selected due to the RaboDirect PRO12 final. Ireland's 29-man squad for the three-Test tour of New Zealand was named on 21 May. Four additional players were added to the squad. Tommy Bowe was ruled out of the tour in early April after undergoing surgery to remove a haematoma. Stephen Ferris was ruled out of the tour due to a calf injury, he was replaced by McLaughlin. Isaac Boss was ruled out of the tour owing to an ongoing thigh problem, he was replaced by Marshall. Paul O'Connell was ruled out of the tour after failing to recover sufficiently from a knee injury, he was replaced by McCarthy. The additional players were Wilkinson and Henry. Loughney was also included to provide cover for Ross.
Head coach: Declan Kidney Caps updated before tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 9 June.
Coaching and management team
Position Name Head coach Declan Kidney Team Manager Michael Kearney
Home squad New Zealand 30-man squad named for the three-Test series against Ireland. Hika Elliot will train with the squad to provide cover for Keven Mealamu.
Head coach: Steve Hansen Caps updated before tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 9 June.
Coaching and management team Position Name Head coach Steve Hansen Team Manager Darren Shand
See also 2012 mid-year rugby test series 2012 Rugby Championship History of rugby union matches between Ireland and New Zealand Ireland national rugby union team New Zealand national rugby union team
References
External links 2012 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand at ESPN