Ireland tour of New Zealand
Kearney wants Eden Park repeat
ESPN Staff
June 5, 2012
Rob Kearney looks to pass during Ireland's training session at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, June 8, 2010
Rob Kearney has be in great form for Leinster and was voted European Player of the Year © Getty Images
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Ireland fullback Rob Kearney wants Ireland to repeat one of their most famous results in recent years when they take on New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.

Declan Kidney's team shocked Australia in the pool stages of the World Cup and left the stadium with a 15-9 win following a match in which they had swarmed all over the Wallabies in attack and defence. Now he realises that Ireland need a similarly fearsome performance if they are to finish with a win.

"(Saturday) is our best chance because it is our next chance," Kearney said. "And if the first Test doesn't go our way then the one after that will be our best chance again after that. It was a huge occasion for us to turn over Australia in a World Cup."

Ireland also play New Zealand in Tests in Christchurch on June 16 and Hamilton on June 23. They have never beaten the All Blacks in the Test arena. A 10-10 draw at Lansdowne Road in 1973 the closest they have ever come.

On Saturday Kearney and the rest of the Ireland team willn also be the latest team to try and end New Zealand's unbeaten run at the stadium, a run that dates back to France's 23-20 victory there in 1994.

"As players we always believe that we can match it with the best teams in the world when we turn up and we play good rugby. As a player and as a team, you have to believe that," Kearney said. "What's important for us is that we keep trying to reproduce that form. We set a bar there in that game, a standard, and it is important for us to keep matching that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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