New Zealand vs Ireland: Live stream, TV channel information and team news as Ireland go in search of historic series win

Ireland are one game away from rugby immortality after securing a historic victory over New Zealand to level their three-match series.

Andy Farrell's men beat the All Blacks for the first time on New Zealand soil to set up a mouth-watering decider this weekend.

Ireland's last visit to New Zealand ended in a 3-0 defeat in 2012 as Dan Carter inspired the All Blacks to victory.

Since then however, the men in green have beaten the All Blacks four times, including last weekend's famous triumph.

Can the All Blacks exact revenge and avoid a first home series defeat since 1994 or will Ireland be able to create more history and lay down a significant marker ahead of the 2023 World Cup?

Read on for everything you need to know for watching the thrilling conclusion to Ireland's summer tour of New Zealand - including TV channel information and kick-off times.

What are the results so far?

First Test, Auckland: New Zealand 42-19 Ireland

Second Test, Dunedin: New Zealand 12-23 Ireland

Third Test, Wellington: New Zealand vs Ireland

How can I watch the third Test?

The gripping series will be decided in a winner-takes-all match in Wellington this weekend.

Like the previous two encounters already this summer, the third and final Test will be available to watch on the NOW app via BT TV. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 8.05am UK time with Sky Sports' coverage beginning from 7.30am on Saturday morning.

What happened in the first Test?

The All Blacks ran in three unanswered tries as the hosts took a 1-0 series lead with a 42-19 victory at Eden Park.

Ireland, who had never won against the All Blacks in New Zealand going into the series opener, made the better start and dominated the opening half hour as Keith Earls scored early.

Andy Farrell's team failed to build on that score as full-back Jordie Barrett hit back for the All Blacks, before wing Sevu Reece ran the length of the field to score an intercept try.

Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton was forced to depart after that score on 30 minutes, as a slip saw his head collide with the knee of Sam Cane, before he failed a HIA.

The All Blacks then scored twice in two minutes through centre Quinn Tupaea and No 8 Ardie Savea, and though Garry Ringrose replied for Ireland early in the second half, they had further Joey Carbery and Josh van der Flier tries ruled out by the TMO after last-gasp interventions by Rieko Ioane on both occasions.

Savea grabbed his second, before replacement Pita Gus Sowakula scored on his Test debut, and Bundee Aki grabbed Ireland's third to complete the scoring.

What happened in the second Test?

Two tries from Andrew Porter and 13 points from Johnny Sexton saw Ireland record a historic 23-12 win over the All Blacks in New Zealand after Angus Ta'avao's red card to level the three-Test series at 1-1.

A chaotic first half saw Porter score just three minutes in before All Blacks wing Leicester Fainga'anuku yellow carded for a leading shoulder to the face of Ireland wing Mack Hansen.

Ireland were then controversially denied a penalty try when tighthead Ofa Tu'ungafasi tackled Garry Ringrose off the ball.

That all proceeded Ta'avao's red card after a TMO review, due to a sickening head-on-head clash with Ringrose, leaving South African referee Jaco Peyper little option but to dismiss the replacement prop on 31 minutes.

Despite facing 14 men for the majority of a first half they dominated, 13 for some time, and what should have been 12 for a play when uncontested scrums came as a result of the red card - it later turned out New Zealand kept 13 on at this point - Ireland failed to add to their score before the break.

It appeared significant when Beauden Barrett got over for an All Blacks try in the final play of the first half in virtually their first attack, after Ireland second row James Ryan was sin-binned for repeated infringements.

Despite the opening nine minutes of the second half starting 14 vs 14, it was Ireland who began to dictate play again, as Porter powered over for his second try, before skipper Sexton added two further penalties to seal success.

New Zealand vs Ireland team news

Ireland

Bundee Aki has replaced the injured Garry Ringrose in the only change to Ireland’s starting XV for Saturday’s series decider against New Zealand in Wellington.

Centre Ringrose was forced off during last weekend’s historic 23-12 win in Dunedin following a sickening clash of heads which led to a red card for All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao.

Captain Johnny Sexton, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday, will play his 108th Test for Ireland, moving level with Paul O’Connell as his country’s fifth most-capped player.

Farrell’s pack for the match at Sky Stadium is unchanged from the opening two meetings of the tour.

Keith Earls, who captained a second string side to a 30-24 win over the Maori All Blacks on Tuesday, is added to an otherwise unchanged bench due to Ringrose’s absence and Aki’s subsequent elevation.

New Zealand

Under-pressure All Blacks head coach ew Zealand head coach Ian Foster has made four personnel changes for Saturday’s crunch showdown with Ireland.

Foster is under increasing pressure in his homeland ahead of the decider in Wellington, having now overseen three defeats from his last four matches.

Foster has responded to the 23-12 reverse in Dunedin by recalling veteran lock Sam Whitelock after concussion, in addition to bolstering his forward pack with tighthead prop Nepo Laulala.

Winger Will Jordan, a try scorer for New Zealand off the bench last weekend, and centre David Havili have also been restored to the starting XV following recent bouts of coronavirus.

Rieko Ioane earns his 50th Test cap at outside centre.

Elsewhere, former rugby league ace Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could make his All Blacks debut after being named on the bench.

What have they been saying?

Johnny Sexton on historic second Test win

“Any time you create a little bit of history it means a lot.

“It’s a very, very special day for everyone in the country.

“We talk a lot about making people at home feel very proud of us and it’s right at the top of our lists.

“I’m unbelievably happy with the win. No Irish team has ever done it before and it’s all on the line next week.”

Andy Farrell on All Blacks response

“We always get a response, don’t we? Everyone knows that, history tells you that. We’re used to it by now. We’ll look forward to that.

“We’ve created a little bit of history for ourselves, little old Ireland, but we’ve earned the right to take it to the last weekend to see what we can do in the final week.

“The players back themselves against anyone and the more we can keep giving them these occasions of playing the best teams in the world, the better they’re going to get.

“I suppose the most impressive thing that we are doing pretty well at this moment in time is understanding where we’re at, each moment at a time and staying calm and not getting too overawed or frustrated with errors or decisions or not executing.

“We’re pretty good at trying to stay neutral and stay on task and it’s helping us to play in these big games and compete.”