Ireland must 'make our own history' in NZ - Sheehan

Ireland captain Dan Sheehan has called on his side to "make our own history" as they prepare to face New Zealand at Eden Park in the Nations Championship on Saturday. The All Blacks have not lost at their Auckland fortress since 1994, and while Ireland won a Test series on New Zealand soil in 2022, they lost at Eden Park in the first match of that series. Sheehan insisted that the record has not been a major focus for the team. "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," said the 27-year-old Leinster hooker. "The capabilities in the squad, if we get them out, it will be a great game and hopefully we come out on top." He added that a lot of the players were not part of the 2022 tour, so the team needs to create its own history.