Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ireland's last attempt to topple New Zealand at Eden Park in July 2022 ended in defeat
ByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI Journalist- Published46 minutes ago
Unbeaten in 52 Tests across 32 years.
To say Eden Park is a fortress for New Zealand is an understatement.
Ireland will become the latest side to try and topple the All Blacks at the famous ground in Auckland in the Nations Championship on Saturday.
The last attempt was in 2022 when they were dismantled 42-19, and although Ireland would rally to win a series on New Zealand turf for the first time, Eden Park would not be breached.
Even for an international who had 100 caps to his name, it is not for the faint-hearted as you run out onto the pitch, illuminated by floodlights with 60,000 New Zealand fans giving their all against you.
In both of Conor Murray's appearances at Eden Park in 2012 and again 10 years later, the All Blacks put 40 points on Ireland with dominant wins.
"It's daunting, we went there in 2012 and got served," former Ireland scum-half Murray said on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.
"Twickenham is one stadium I always found hard to just go to and play, especially early on because the history and the quality of the side you were playing.
"Eden Park is that, and up a level again."
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On paper, Ireland will head to Eden Park after claiming maximum points from their two Nations Championship games, with bonus-point wins over Australia and Japan.
In reality, there were flaws in both performances and the error count will need to drop if Andy Farrell's side are to make history in Auckland.
But there's one factor that Murray believes could help Ireland in their cause, and it's down to spending as little time in New Zealand as possible.
"Being in New Zealand, it's just all rugby and you cannot get away from it, even away from training or going out for coffees and you can't switch off.
"That's probably a good thing for the Irish lads who have spent the last two weeks in Australia, they have to fly to New Zealand and it's fairly short turnaround before you play.
"If you're talking about small 1% margins, you don't have the time to get bogged down by rugby, rugby, rugby in New Zealand."
'It's suffocating'
Image source, InphoImage caption, Conor Murray lost at Eden Park against the All Blacks as an Ireland player in 2012 and 2022
Murray said it was something he struggled with in the old three-game tours of New Zealand that would have preceded the inaugural Nations Championship this year.
"When you've lost two matches, the last week is long. It's hard and it builds pressure," added Murray.
"But on the flip side, when you are driving in on the bus to Eden Park in the evening and it's all lit up with the floodlights, it's special, cool and it ignites something exciting.
"There's nerves, but then there's also, 'jeez this is where it's all at, this is the All Blacks away'."
Paul Marshall, who toured New Zealand in 2012 with Ireland but did not feature against the All Blacks, said it was "suffocating".
"It was funny, we stayed just outside Auckland in Takapuna and there was a wee tennis club across the way from the hotel," he said.
"It was all new to me being on an Irish tour and being in New Zealand, and there was a sign that said 'bored of rugby? Try tennis'.
"I couldn't believe it, just every shop you went into everybody was talking about rugby.
"It is so different and it's suffocating at times".
'You can play well and still lose'
Murray said the game with New Zealand, who come into the contest with a thrilling win over France and a hammering of Italy, will show where Ireland are at as the World Cup looms next year.
It takes even more prominence given how much Ireland's set piece struggled against Japan on Saturday, despite the 16-point victory.
Even head coach Farrell admitted the scoreline flattered his side.
"Every area of your game is tested and if it's not quite up to scratch, it gets punished straight away," Murray said on facing the All Blacks.
"Everything needs to be tightened up and played to a really high standard to have a chance."
Murray added that even a strong performance may not be enough in a cauldron like Eden Park.
He said that Ireland "played really well" in the opening game of the 2022 series in Auckland, but were still on the receiving end of a 42-19 defeat.
"That's why we went in with confidence to the second and third tests [which Ireland won for a historic series victory]," he said.
"We just looked at their tries. Some were just from nothing, some a mistake from us and some were incredible from the All Blacks.
"So you can go there, play well and still lose."
