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Ireland captain Dan Sheehan says Andy Farrell’s side must “make our own history” when they take on New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday [08:10 BST].<\/b><\/p>\n
The All Blacks have not been beaten at their Auckland fortress since 1994 and while Ireland won a Test series on away soil in 2022, they lost at Eden Park in the first of a three-match series.<\/p>\n
They did follow that up with a first away win over the All Blacks in Dunedin before clinching the series in Wellington.<\/p>\n
While New Zealand’s record at their “iconic” Auckland fortress has formed part of the conjecture prior to kick-off this week, Sheehan insists that has not been “something we’ve focused on massively”.<\/p>\n
“It’s a special record, but we’re trying to get the best out of the group we’ve seen this year and we think we have it in us,” the 27-year-old Leinster hooker said.<\/p>\n
“The capabilities in the squad, if we get them out, it will be a great game and hopefully we come out on top.<\/p>\n
“They are an incredible outfit, especially at home, so any good performance on New Zealand soil is something to remember. We will be looking to recreate that.<\/p>\n
“We’ve a new group here and a lot of the lads weren’t on that tour, so we’ve got to make our own history.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n