A closer look at the All Blacks' remarkable Eden Park record

Eden Park has changed dramatically since 1994. It’s gone through major redevelopment, the turf has been upgraded with world-class drainage, concerts play at night and the beer prices are now astronomical (but we don’t need to go there).

The one thing that hasn’t changed is the All Blacks‘ record. It’s perfect.

Well, perfect enough. Forty-eight test matches unbeaten, with two draws sprinkled in amongst 46 victories since France defeated Sean Fitzpatrick’s side on July 3, 1994.

Over the past 30 years, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, the British and Irish Lions, France, Tonga, Argentina, Wales and Samoa have all tried and couldn’t get the win. The Wallabies have failed 22 times.

England head to Eden Park on Saturday with higher hopes than many that have been before after falling by only one point last weekend in Dunedin. On their last visit 10 years ago, England held a late lead before an Aaron Cruden penalty and then a Conrad Smith try in the 80th minute kept the Eden Park streak going with a 20-15 victory.

England have tasted victory at Eden Park – over the All Blacks in 1973 and also at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, when they beat Scotland 16-12 in their final pool game, before losing a quarter-final to France a week later.

Richie McCaw played in 22 test wins at Eden Park.

It’s been a few years since the All Blacks played at Eden Park after the ground was off limits due to the Fifa World Cup last year, last running out in September 2022.

France the last team to beat All Blacks at Eden Park
France 23 All Blacks 20, July 3, 1994

Matthew Cooper, who won the last of his eight caps that day at second five, told the Herald in 2014: “We have to acknowledge that we were beaten by a very good French team. They had a huge amount of ability and desire and they had good players across the field.

“They had a very good goalkicker in Thierry Lacroix and Philippe Sella was there, so there was a lot of class.

“I don’t think we as All Blacks had come together that well and while we played better in Auckland than we had the week before in Christchurch, we still weren’t on top of our game.”

Neither he nor many of his teammates remember much other than the final score, which came to be known as the “try from the end of the world”.

“I remember when they began the move to score the try, I initially thought there wasn’t much danger,” says Sir John Kirwan, the All Blacks right wing that day.

“But then they kept coming and I thought, ‘Oh-oh, we might be in some trouble here’.”

The try from the end of the world
All Blacks first five Stephen Bachop kicked long into the French 22. Left wing Philippe St Andre gathered, accelerated past Matthew Cooper and Sean Fitzpatrick before recycling. The ball went right, No 8 Philippe Benetton cut inside Jonah Lomu, there was a neat interplay between Laurent Cabannes, Emile Ntamack and Philippe Sella that put halfback Guy Accoceberry clear. He could have made it, but handed it on to flying fullback Jean-Luc Sadourny, who crossed through the tackle of John Timu.

All Blacks at Eden Park – since July 3, 1994
Biggest win – 78-0 v Samoa, 2017
Closest win – 8-7 v France, 2011 World Cup final

Record
All Blacks 18 South Africa 18, 1994
All Blacks 73 Canada 7, 1995
All Blacks 28 Australia 16, 1995
All Blacks 36 Scotland 12, 1996
All Blacks 55 South Africa 35, 1997
All Blacks 40 England 10, 1998
All Blacks 34 Australia 15, 1999
All Blacks 48 Scotland 14, 2000
All Blacks 26 South Africa 15, 2001
All Blacks 40 Ireland 8, 2002
All Blacks 21 Australia 17, 2003
All Blacks 36 England 12, 2004
All Blacks 38 British and Irish Lions 19, 2005
All Blacks 34 Australia 24, 2005
All Blacks 27 Ireland 17, 2006
All Blacks 34 Australia 27, 2006
All Blacks 42 France 11, 2007
All Blacks 26 Australia 12, 2007
All Blacks 37 England 20, 2008
All Blacks 39 Australia 10, 2008
All Blacks 22 Australia 16, 2009
All Blacks 32 South Africa 12, 2010
All Blacks 30 Australia 14, 2011
All Blacks 41 Tonga 10, 2011
All Blacks 37 France 17, 2011
All Blacks 33 Argentina 10, 2011
All Blacks 20 Australia 6, 2011
All Blacks 8 France 7, 2011
All Blacks 42 Ireland 10, 2012
All Blacks 22 Australia 0, 2012
All Blacks 23 France 13, 2013
All Blacks 29 South Africa 15, 2013
All Blacks 20 England 15, 2014
All Blacks 51 Australia 20, 2014
All Blacks 41 Australia 13, 2015
All Blacks 39 Wales 21, 2016
All Blacks 37 Australia 10, 2016
All Blacks 78 Samoa 0, 2017
All Blacks 30 Lions 15, 2017
All Blacks 15 Lions 15, 2017
All Blacks 52 France 11, 2018
All Blacks 40 Australia 12, 2018
All Blacks 36 Australia 0, 2019
All Blacks 27 Australia 7, 2020
All Blacks 33 Australia 25, 2021
All Blacks 57 Australia 22, 2021
All Blacks 42 Ireland 19, 2022
All Blacks 40 Australia, 14, 2022

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission