Rennie taps Jordie Barrett's Leinster knowledge to decode Ireland ahead of Eden Park clash

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has turned to Jordie Barrett for inside knowledge on Ireland as New Zealand prepare for their Nations Championship fixture at Eden Park this weekend, with the midfielder’s spell at Leinster giving him a first-hand read on several of Andy Farrell’s current squad.

Barrett spent a sabbatical at Leinster, winning the URC title in 2025 alongside a number of the Ireland players New Zealand will face on Saturday. Rennie confirmed the coaching staff wasted little time in putting that experience to use, consulting Barrett at a leaders’ meeting on Sunday evening in Auckland.

“We did get him to confirm some of our thoughts,” Rennie said on Monday. “A lot of our guys have played the Irish a lot and know a lot about them. I reckon the boys watch a lot more Northern Hemisphere footy than they might have half a dozen years ago, and so they know a lot about the players.”

Both teams arrive at Eden Park in strong form. Ireland opened their Nations Championship campaign with a narrow 33-31 win over the Wallabies in Sydney before defeating Japan 36-20 in Newcastle. New Zealand also carry two wins from two into the fixture.

It is Ireland’s first visit to New Zealand since their landmark 2022 series, when they recovered from a first-Test defeat to clinch the series with a 32-22 victory in Wellington — a result that Rennie acknowledged has elevated the rivalry.

“They’re such a good side, and they’ve had success of late,” Rennie said. “We’ll talk about South Africa being a massive rival, and of course the rivalry with Australia, and everyone loves England. I guess it depends who you’re playing.”

Rennie was candid about the tactical challenge Ireland pose, identifying their defensive structure and kicking game as the primary threats his side must navigate. “Ireland are a very good defensive side; they’re going to kick a lot of balls and try and apply pressure through that. We need to get excited about it and work hard for opportunities. But we’re going to have to balance our game out.”

The All Blacks did win the Eden Park leg of the 2022 series, and home advantage at a ground where they have a formidable record will be a significant factor. Whether Barrett’s Leinster intelligence proves decisive remains to be seen, but Rennie is clearly leaving nothing to chance.