The standing joke about New Zealand’s unbeaten 52-match winning streak at Eden Park since France won 23-20 in 1994 is that the All Blacks choose the opposition wisely at a given point in time and only face teams at the Auckland venue if the home team is confident about their prospects. It also helps they’ve been the number-one team in the world for large tranches of the last 32 years.Australia suffered defeat on 21 occasions in Eden Park and during the period in question (1994-2026) the Wallabies only won three times on New Zealand soil: Christchurch (1998) as part of a 3-0 Bledisloe series win; Wellington (2000) when they retained the cup by drawing the series 1-1; and Carisbrook, the House of Pain in Dunedin (2001) in a 2-0 series win.Those three Aussie wins in their neighbour’s stadiums came during a five-year period (1998-2002 inclusive) in which they either won or drew the series to retain the Bledisloe Cup; a golden period if you will in every respect. In the last 24 years the Wallabies have managed one draw on New Zealand soil (2020 in Wellington) and their only victories outside Australia were a couple of wins in Hong Kong.Taking the Aussies to Eden Park has been risk averse for the period in question. The All Blacks drew two matches at Eden Park during that run, the first in the match after France’s win in 1994. The Springboks were the visitors, and it was part of a 14-match tour to New Zealand.[ Rob Kearney on Ireland v New Zealand: ‘This backline is the best we have available’ ]Pieter Muller, who would go on to play for Greystones, and Ollie Le Roux, who enjoyed his time at Leinster, were part of the touring squad that were 2-0 down in the Test series when they played the All Blacks but managed an 18-18 draw, having led 12-9 at the interval. The ‘Boks went on to win the Rugby World Cup the following year.The second draw was against the British & Irish Lions in 2017. The Test series stood at 1-1, but four penalties from Owen Farrell and a howitzer from Elliot Daly saw the Lions cling on for a 15-15 draw with Jordie Barrett a try scorer from the home side.Lions' Elliot Daly kicks a penalty in the third Test against the All Blacks in July 2017. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/INPHO A late contentious decision from French referee Romain Poite in which he adjudicated accidental offside rather than a penalty, when Ken Owens played the ball in front from a Liam Williams knock-on, was a tough pill to swallow for the home side. Andy Farrell was the Lions defence coach, Tadhg Furlong was tighthead prop, while Robbie Henshaw, another member of the current Irish squad although not playing in Auckland on Saturday, played in that series.Ireland have lost four previous matches against the All Blacks at Eden Park – they hadn’t beaten New Zealand at that point in their history – during that period, although they did manage a win at the Auckland ground during a World Cup game against Australia. The closest they came to winning was in 2006 when going down 27-17. Clarke Dermody, the incoming Ulster forwards coach, was a try scorer for the All Blacks, while current Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell crossed the All Blacks line.The closest anyone got to New Zealand at Eden Park was France, who lost the 2011 Rugby World Cup final 8-7. Will it be fifth time lucky for Ireland on Saturday morning? There aren’t too many glass ceilings left for Farrell to play through in his time in charge.New Zealand’s unbeaten run at Eden Park since 1994 (most recent game first)27/09/2025 – Australia: 33-2406/09/2025 – South Africa: 24-1717/08/2024 – Argentina: 42-1013/07/2024 – England: 24-1724/09/2022 – Australia: 40-1402/07/2022 – Ireland: 42-1914/08/2021 – Australia: 57-2207/08/2021 – Australia: 33-2518/10/2020 – Australia: 27-717/08/2019 – Australia: 36-025/08/2018 – Australia: 40-1209/06/2018 – France: 52-1108/07/2017 – British & Irish Lions: 15-1524/06/2017 – British & Irish Lions: 30-1516/06/2017 – Samoa: 78-022/10/2016 – Australia: 37-1011/06/2016 – Wales: 39-2115/08/2015 – Australia: 41-1323/08/2014 – Australia: 51-2007/06/2014 – England: 20-1514/09/2013 – South Africa: 29-1508/06/2013 – France: 23-1325/08/2012 – Australia: 22-009/06/2012 – Ireland: 42-1023/10/2011 – France: 8-716/10/2011 – Australia: 20-609/10/2011 – Argentina: 33-1024/09/2011 – France: 37-1709/09/2011 – Tonga: 41-1006/08/2011 – Australia: 30-1410/07/2010 – South Africa: 32-1218/07/2009 – Australia: 22-1602/08/2008 – Australia: 39-1014/06/2008 – England: 37-2021/07/2007 – Australia: 26-1202/06/2007 – France: 42-1119/08/2006 – Australia: 34-2717/06/2006 – Ireland: 27-1703/09/2005 – Australia: 34-2409/07/2005 – British & Irish Lions: 38-1919/06/2004 – England: 36-1216/08/2003 – Australia: 21-1722/06/2002 – Ireland: 40-825/08/2001 – South Africa: 26-1501/07/2000 – Scotland: 48-1424/07/1999 – Australia: 34-1527/06/1998 – England: 40-1009/08/1997 – South Africa: 55-3522/06/1996 – Scotland: 36-1222/07/1995 – Australia: 28-1622/04/1995 – Canada: 73-706/08/1994 – South Africa: 18-18.All Blacks country by country breakdown of wins at Eden ParkAustralia: 21South Africa: five; one drawFrance: fiveEngland: fiveIreland: fourBritish & Irish Lions: two; one drawScotland: twoArgentina: twoWales, Samoa, Canada, Tonga: one each.