In July 2022, Ireland played a 3 match test series against New Zealand as part of the 2022 mid-year rugby union internationals. Ireland also played two matches against the Māori All Blacks. This was Ireland's first tour since their tour to Australia in 2018, their first tour to New Zealand since 2012, and their first encounter against New Zealand since November 2021.
In the first test, at Auckland's Eden Park, New Zealand comfortably beat the visitors 42–19.
In the second test, in Dunedin, Ireland prevailed by 23–12 scoring their first victory against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, and recorded their fourth win over New Zealand.
The following week Ireland became just the fifth touring side to achieve a series win in New Zealand, beating the All Blacks 32–22 in Wellington for a 2–1 series victory. The feat had only been previously accomplished by South Africa (1937), Australia (1949, 1986), the British & Irish Lions (1971), and France (1994).
Fixtures Date Venue Home Score Away 29 June 2022 FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton 32–17 2 July 2022 Eden Park, Auckland 42–19 9 July 2022 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 12–23 12 July 2022 Sky Stadium, Wellington 24–30 16 July 2022 Sky Stadium, Wellington 22–32
Squads Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 17 July 2022, the day after the end of the tour.
Ireland On 14 June, Ireland named a 40-man squad for their 3-test series for the New Zealand tour.
Coaching team: Head coach: Andy Farrell Assistant and attack coach: Mike Catt Defence coach: Simon Easterby Forwards coach: Paul O'Connell Scrum coach: John Fogarty
New Zealand On 13 June the All Blacks' squad was announced, including six potential debutants. On 17 June New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced lock Josh Lord had been ruled out of the tour with a ruptured ACL. On 27 June it was announced head coach Ian Foster, assistant coaches John Plumtree and Scott McLeod, and centres David Havili and Jack Goodhue had been ruled out of the first test after testing positive for COVID-19. Former Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt was called in to coach New Zealand ahead of their first test against Ireland. Braydon Ennor was called into the squad as a midfield cover.
Coaching team: Head coach: Ian Foster Attack coach: Brad Mooar Forwards coach: John Plumtree Scrum coach: Greg Feek
Matches First match vs Māori All Blacks
Team details FB 15Zarn SullivanRW 14Shaun Stevenson OC 13Billy ProctorIC 12Rameka PoihipiLW 11Connor Garden-BachopFH 10Josh Ioane SH 9 Brad Weber (c) N8 8 Cullen GraceOF 7 Billy HarmonBF 6 Cameron Suafoa RL 5 Isaia Walker-LeawereLL 4 Josh Dickson TP 3 Tyrel Lomax HK 2 Kurt Eklund LP 1 Ollie Norris Replacements:HK 16Tyrone Thompson PR 17Tamaiti Williams PR 18Jermaine Ainsley LK 19Manaaki Selby-Rickit FL 20TK Howden SH 21TJ Perenara FH 22Ruben Love CE 23Bailyn Sullivan Coach: Clayton McMillan FB 15Jimmy O'Brien RW 14Jordan LarmourOC 13James Hume IC 12Bundee Aki (c)LW 11Keith EarlsFH 10Ciarán FrawleySH 9 Craig CaseyN8 8 Gavin Coombes OF 7 Nick TimoneyBF 6 Cian PrendergastRL 5 Joe McCarthyLL 4 Kieran Treadwell TP 3 Tom O'TooleHK 2 Dave Heffernan LP 1 Jeremy Loughman Replacements:HK 16Niall Scannell PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Ryan Baird N8 20Jack Conan SH 21Conor MurrayFH 22Joey Carbery CE 23Michael Lowry Coach: Andy Farrell Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia) Graham Cooper (Australia) Television match official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
First test
Team details FB 15Jordie BarrettRW 14Sevu ReeceOC 13Rieko IoaneIC 12Quinn Tupaea LW 11Leicester Fainga'anukuFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Ardie SaveaBF 7 Sam Cane (c) OF 6 Scott BarrettRL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 George Bower Replacements:HK 16Samisoni Taukei'aho PR 17Karl Tu'inukuafe PR 18Angus Ta'avao FL 19Pita Gus Sowakula FL 20Dalton Papalii SH 21Finlay Christie FH 22Richie Mo'unga CE 23Braydon EnnorCoach: Ian Foster FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Keith Earls OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan Doris BF 7 Josh van der FlierOF 6 Peter O'MahonyRL 5 James RyanLL 4 Tadhg Beirne TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Dan Sheehan LP 1 Andrew PorterReplacements:HK 16Dave Heffernan PR 17Cian HealyPR 18Tom O'Toole LK 19Kieran Treadwell N8 20Jack Conan SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Joey Carbery CE 23Bundee Aki Coach: Andy Farrell Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Notes: Leicester Fainga'anuku and Pita Gus Sowakula (New Zealand) made their international debuts. Finlay Bealham was originally named on the Ireland bench, but was replaced on match day by Tom O'Toole.
Second test
Team details FB 15Jordie BarrettRW 14Sevu ReeceOC 13Rieko IoaneIC 12Quinn TupaeaLW 11Leicester Fainga'anuku FH 10Beauden Barrett SH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Ardie Savea BF 7 Sam Cane (c)OF 6 Dalton Papalii RL 5 Scott Barrett LL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 George Bower Replacements:HK 16Samisoni Taukei'aho PR 17Aidan Ross PR 18Angus Ta'avao LK 19Patrick Tuipulotu FL 20Pita Gus Sowakula SH 21Folau Fakatava FH 22Richie Mo'unga FB 23Will Jordan Coach: Ian Foster FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Mack HansenOC 13Garry Ringrose IC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan Doris BF 7 Josh van der FlierOF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Tadhg BeirneTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Dan Sheehan LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Rob Herring PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Kieran Treadwell N8 20Jack Conan SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Joey Carbery CE 23Bundee Aki Coach: Andy Farrell Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: This was Ireland's first ever victory over New Zealand in New Zealand. Scott Barrett (New Zealand) earned his 50th test cap. Folau Fakatava and Aidan Ross (New Zealand) made their international debuts.
Second match vs Māori All Blacks
Team details FB 15Josh Moorby RW 14Shaun Stevenson OC 13Bailyn SullivanIC 12Alex Nankivell LW 11Connor Garden-BachopFH 10Josh IoaneSH 9 TJ Perenara (c) N8 8 Cullen GraceOF 7 Billy HarmonBF 6 Reed Prinsep RL 5 Isaia Walker-LeawereLL 4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit TP 3 Tyrel Lomax HK 2 Kurt Eklund LP 1 Ollie Norris Replacements:HK 16Leni Apisai PR 17Tamaiti Williams PR 18Marcel Renata FL 19TK Howden FL 20Caleb Delany SH 21Brad Weber FH 22Ruben Love CE 23Billy Proctor Coach: Clayton McMillan FB 15Michael Lowry RW 14Jordan Larmour OC 13Keith Earls (c)IC 12Stuart McCloskeyLW 11Jimmy O'BrienFH 10Ciarán FrawleySH 9 Craig CaseyN8 8 Gavin CoombesOF 7 Nick TimoneyBF 6 Cian Prendergast RL 5 Kieran Treadwell LL 4 Joe McCarthyTP 3 Tom O'Toole HK 2 Niall ScannellLP 1 Jeremy Loughman Replacements:HK 16Rob HerringPR 17Ed Byrne PR 18Michael Bent LK 19Ryan Baird N8 20Jack ConanSH 21Conor MurrayFH 22Joey Carbery WG 23Mack HansenCoach: Andy Farrell Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: James Leckie (Australia) Notes: This was Ireland's first ever victory over the Māori All Blacks. Finlay Bealham was originally named on the Ireland bench, but was replaced on match day by Michael Bent.
Third test
Team details FB 15Jordie BarrettRW 14Sevu Reece OC 13Rieko Ioane IC 12David HaviliLW 11Will JordanFH 10Beauden BarrettSH 9 Aaron Smith N8 8 Ardie SaveaBF 7 Sam Cane (c) OF 6 Akira IoaneRL 5 Sam WhitelockLL 4 Brodie Retallick TP 3 Nepo Laulala HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 George Bower Replacements:HK 16Dane Coles PR 17Karl Tu'inukuafe PR 18Ofa Tu'ungafasi FL 19Tupou Vaa'i FL 20Dalton Papalii SH 21Folau Fakatava FH 22Richie Mo'unga CE 23Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Coach: Ian Foster FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Mack HansenOC 13Robbie HenshawIC 12Bundee Aki LW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan DorisBF 7 Josh van der Flier OF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James RyanLL 4 Tadhg Beirne TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Dan Sheehan LP 1 Andrew Porter Replacements:HK 16Rob Herring PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Kieran Treadwell N8 20Jack Conan SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Joey Carbery WG 23Keith Earls Coach: Andy Farrell Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: New Zealand's Scott Barrett (starting XV) and Aidan Ross had both been named in the team, but withdrew from the team ahead of kickoff. Akira Ioane replaced Barrett in the starting XV with Tupou Vaa'i joining the bench, whilst Karl Tu'inukuafe replaced Ross. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand) made his international debut. Ireland won a first test series in New Zealand for the first time in history. This was the first time since 1994, and just the fifth in history, that New Zealand lost a home test series. This was the first time since 1998 that New Zealand lost back-to-back home test matches. This was the first time that Ireland won back-to-back matches against New Zealand. With this win, Ireland claimed top spot in the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since 2019.
See also 2022 July rugby union tests History of rugby union matches between Ireland and New Zealand
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