New Zealand v Ireland: Five storylines to follow ahead of the three-Test series

An intriguing prospect awaits when Ireland travel to New Zealand for a three-match Test series in July.

Ireland triumphed over the All Blacks in Dublin last year and the Irish are looking to kick on from a solid Six Nations Triple Crown.

Here, Planet Rugby takes a lot at five talking points ahead of the blockbuster series.

The All Blacks had experienced a decade of global dominance before falling short in the semi-finals against England at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Since then, the ball has not bounced coach Foster’s way; dealing with the Covid pandemic added further complications. The All Blacks lost two games to Ireland and France on their Northern Hemisphere tour at the end of last year, and the alarm bells are ringing.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is slightly more than a year away. Foster needs to get it right against Ireland, particularly after a positive Super Rugby Pacific season for New Zealand sides. The coach has the personnel and the home advantage to build momentum towards next year’s showpiece event. However, it will be a tricky task against an Irish side that has been building steadily and will be eyeing a series win in New Zealand, a feat that may just be achievable.

However, All Blacks fans will be expecting a series win at the very least, with a whitewash as the cherry on top, and Foster will have no excuse if his side falls short.

The inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season was a success on many fronts, including the successful transition of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck from rugby league to rugby union. The centre was a powerhouse for the Blues and grew through the tournament forming a formidable partnership with the electric Rieko Ioane.

Tuivasa-Sheck is not a polished product yet, but his rapid development makes him