Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Jimmy O'Brien is "on top of his game" before facing New Zealand.

After a turbulent season with Leinster, O'Brien has impressed for Ireland on the right wing against Australia and Japan during Rob Baloucoune's absence.

However, with Baloucoune fit again, O'Brien will now switch to 11 while Jamie Osborne, who began against the Wallabies on the left wing, drops out of the matchday squad.

"He's been in great form," Farrell said when asked about O'Brien in a press conference.

"He's gone from stop-start really for Leinster over the course of the season and not really nailing down any type of genuine spot, but for us over the last three or four weeks it's been obvious that he's been really on top of his game and he's been in great form.

"Obviously there's pressure within himself playing for your country and he deals with those pressures superbly well."

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New Zealand scrum-half Cam Roigard has scored 15 tries in 19 Tests.

Since overcoming a nasty knee injury in 2024, Roigard has grabbed hold of a starting spot.

He is now one of the best nines in the world.

Lethal!

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, speaking to ITV before the game: "It's a matter now of narrowing the focus and understanding what we want to bring to the table. We know what the All Blacks' DNA is and how they want to play. They have been open with that, and we need to attack the game properly from our end."

On Eden Park record: "It helps in preparation because it becomes a special week. We're the lucky ones. Italy didn't play here, nor did France, so we're the lucky ones that get to be here and see what the occasion brings out in us. Big games are there to bring out the best version of yourself. There is no bigger test than Eden Park, and it's what we want, given what is coming up in the next 15 months."

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Former Ulster scrum-half 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.

Sean Fitzpatrick
Ex All Blacks captain on ITV

Eden Park is our fortress, it is somewhere we feel really comfortable. It's going to be a great game.

Ireland have beaten New Zealand five times.

2016: Ireland 40–29 New Zealand (Chicago)

2018: Ireland 16-9 New Zealand (Dublin)

2021: Ireland 29-20 New Zealand (Dublin)

2022: New Zealand 12-23 Ireland (Dunedin)

2022: New Zealand 22-32 Ireland (Wellington)

Since sealing a famous away series win over the All Blacks in 2022, New Zealand have won the next three meetings (2023, 2024 and 2025).

Despite already playing twice on home soil in the inaugural Nations Championship, New Zealand will relish a return to Eden Park, where they have not lost a Test since France were the victors in 1994.

However, New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie said they cannot rest on their laurels when they welcome an Ireland side who are unbeaten in six games.

"There's a healthy amount of respect for the Irish. We're well aware of their ability and they'll come in and genuinely believe they can beat us," Rennie told media in the build-up to the game.

He continued: "It's always nice going to Eden Park. It'll be nice having a lot of supporters cheering for us."

"It's been a fortress, but what's happened in the past counts for little. It's about us making sure we get our prep right and mindset right.

"To play against an Irish side who, last time they toured this country, they won a series."

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What a story for New Zealand-born Sean Jansen.

The Connacht number eight was the standout performer on his Ireland debut against Japan, and that has earned him a place on the bench against his native country.

The 27-year-old, who was born in Dunedin, left New Zealand in 2022 to sign for Leicester Tigers before moving to Ireland.

Now he gets the chance to play at Eden Park. He may have thought that opportunity had passed him by.

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All Blacks boss Dave Rennie makes four changes to the side which thumped the Italians 47-17 in Wellington, with Tupou Vaa'i shifting from lock to blind-side flanker.

Winger Josh Moorby is handed his first start after coming off the bench against Italy, while Quinn Tupaea returns to join former Leinster player Jordie Barrett in midfield.

Will Jordan, who became the All Blacks' record try scorer with a hat-trick against the Azzurri, starts on the right wing, but there is no place in the squad for 144-Test veteran fly-half Beauden Barrett, with Ruben Love retained in the 10 jersey.

New Zealand: McKenzie; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Moorby; Love, Roigard; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Lord, Tuipulotu, Vaa'i, Jacobson, Savea (capt).

Replacements: Aumua, Numia, Newell, Segner, Lakai, Ratima, Lienert-Brown, Clarke.

Conor Murray
Former Ireland scrum-half on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

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.

Fit-again wing Robert Baloucoune returns to the Ireland starting XV.

The 28-year-old, who won the Six Nations Rising Player award after starring in his side's Triple Crown campaign earlier this year, missed the wins over Australia and Japan with a hamstring issue.

Head coach Andy Farrell recalls a host of key players after fielding a heavily rotated team in last week's 36-20 victory over Japan, with captain Dan Sheehan, prop Tadhg Furlong and fly-half Sam Prendergast among nine changes.

Tom O'Toole, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Stuart McCloskey and Jimmy O'Brien are the six players retained in the line-up.

Ireland: Keenan; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; O'Toole, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Beirne, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Loughman, Clarkson, Timoney, Jansen, Casey, Frawley, Aki.

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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.

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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Ireland are also undefeated in the Nations Championship.

A narrow win over Australia was followed up by a win over Japan.

Played two, won two.

Life under Dave Rennie is looking positive after Scott Robertson's mixed tenure.

For everyone in Ireland, hopefully this early start is worth it.

New Zealand have not lost at Eden Park since 1994.

Dave Rennie's side have won both of their Nations Championship matches against France and Italy.

It is a huge ask for Andy Farrell's Ireland, but rising to a challenge is what has defined his side in recent years.