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Ireland set for three-Test tour of New Zealand in 2022

By Ciarán Kennedy
Ireland will tour New Zealand in 2022. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Andy Farrell has confirmed that Ireland will head to New Zealand for a three-Test tour in 2022. Speaking shortly after the pool draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was made in Paris this morning, the Ireland head coach confirmed the tour as he provided a rough idea of how Ireland’s fixture list is shaping up in preparation of the tournament.

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Ireland have been drawn in Pool B of the 2023 World Cup where they will play reigning champions South Africa and Scotland, as well as two yet to be confirmed teams from the Asia Pacific and European qualifiers.

And Farrell says the 2022 tour of New Zealand, which will be Ireland first of the country since 2012, is “the type of challenge we would want” ahead of a World Cup campaign. The All Blacks ended Ireland’s 2019 World Cup with a dominant 46-14 quarter-final win.

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Ireland, who have never beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand, are also set to play Ian Foster’s side in Dublin in 2021 as part of their Autumn Series fixtures.

“We know where the journey [over the next few years] is heading to, obviously the pool stages have just been announced and we’re heading to France,” Farrell said.

“There’s a few gaps along that journey that need to be filled in because of Covid, etc, but what we do know for sure is that the Six Nations will carry on being played, so we’ll get to play Scotland twice, again Murrayfield next year, which is always a massive challenge for anyone.

“Then obviously with the Lions tour, what an opportunity for the Scots and the Irish boys to put their hand up during this Six Nations and get on that tour and learn all about what it’s like to take the world champions on in their own backyard. There is nothing more exciting for a player than that.

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“And then what we do know for sure at this point in time, there’s a tour a year out from the World Cup to New Zealand, which is a three Test tour, which is going to obviously be a massive challenge for us, but it’s the type of challenge we would want going into a World Cup year.

“And then hopefully we get to go to the Pacific Nations in the summer [2021], if that happens with Covid etc, we’ll see how that works, but we’re super excited about that.

“And then hopefully along the way in the Autumn Series that is going to come for the next couple of years, hopefully we can get to play South Africa again as an Irish side.

“So like I said, the journey is mapped out, there’s a few little holes to fill in, but it’s a big old couple of years ahead for all of us.”

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A
Adrian 59 minutes ago
Reds are carrying the Australian flag on and off the pitch

Thanks Nick, and totally correct. Definately too many teams which is unfortunately an effect of the 21st century hubris that began after our 2nd World Cup win. Honestly we weren't like that before then. If NZ beat us in a Rugby League or cricket series (which has occasionally happened) they don't all of a sudden think they are our equal or even better than us. Unfortunately for Australia, we got carried away with ourselves and wanted to jump from 4th biggest football code to biggest…in 5 minutes. More teams, more matches against the All Blacks (so we could beat them even more). Bring it on. It’s been all down hill since then. Assuming Melbourne are gone, there are very good reasons to keep the remaining 4 in SR, or so it would seem. The Force?…wronged previously, and have $s. Surely not. The Brumbies?….easily the best performed. Surely not. The Waratahs?….most players (50%) and most followers. Surely not. The Reds?….easily the best current team, and nearly as many players and followers as the Waratahs. Surely not. I’d argue that based on how strong the combined Reds n Rebs would be and how strong a combined team of all of the other Oz SR teams would be, we have players for 2 teams…..which would be good. Good enough for a propper SR competition…or maybe good enough for Japan….if they’ll have us. Existing SR teams?….keep them and have them play a second tier…or maybe NZ's NRC….if they'll have us. This is biting the bullet. We have the cattle

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M
Mzilikazi 2 hours ago
How England reverse-engineered unlikely attacking change

Thanks, Nick, not only for this fine article, but for all the others during 6N 2024. I really enjoyed this 2024 tournament, and felt it was one of the best for many years. That final match in Lyons was really good. England were certainly unlucky when that speculative hack by Ramos lead to a French try. It could just so easily have landed in English hand.s, and they score at the other end. I did think though that the French played some great rugby, and some of their driving play in the forwards was just fearsome. I watched Meafou with interest, and he has a good start to his career. It is interesting to compare him with Will Skelton. Lot of similarities, though so far Meafou has not shown any offloading threat. All credit to Borthwick for being prepared to change, and what great result, even if that last game was lost at the death. I feel they are a real chance to cause the AB’s problems this winter/summer. Finally a comment on Ireland. I thought their last game was their worst, and they did not look like the world’s No 2 side at all. What really worries me is that the loss to England was, in my view, down to poor decision making by the coaching group, and ofc Andy Farrell wears that. It was a big mistake to move JGP away from scrum half. Murray should have been the one to go to the wing. And the “finishers” should have been on the field earlier. And this is the second time this has happened. The RWC Qf against the AB’s, and not getting Crowley onto the field was a huge mistake. Finally, finally, watching Italy play was a joy. How wonderful that they are no longer the punchbag of the 6 N.

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