Michael Sadlier

There really isn’t a straightforward explanation for what happened in the second 40 minutes at Cardiff Arms Park or obvious access point over just how Ulster contrived to lose a game that seemingly was as good as won.

It’s Ireland camp now for Nick Timoney, which might be the preferable option in putting Saturday evening’s defeat at Cardiff behind him rather than sitting on a beach with all that time to reflect.

On Friday night, Ireland and the All Blacks come together at the Aviva Stadium for the first time since last year’s epic World Cup Quarter-Final in France when the Irish fell short at that stage once again. Here, we look at some of the memorable games played out over the last 50 years between these two rivals.

It’s just over 12 months since the sides last met when Ireland’s lofty World Cup ambitions came crashing down at the hands of the All Blacks and yet another exit arrived at the Quarter-Final stages.

Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park stops New Zealand's Damian McKenzie with a timely tackle at the Aviva Stadium. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Ulster’s Jake Flannery gets his first game time in the 2024/25 season as he turns out for in-form Ballynahinch at Lansdowne on Saturday.

It got missed really with all the hype from the build-up; the unthinkable narrative that the All Blacks could possibly have Ireland’s number.

Conor Rankin’s late penalty kept Ballynahinch’s winning run in 1A intact as they shaded a closely fought affair at Lansdowne by 27-25.

It all comes with the territory when moving home, there will be furniture to be heaved into place, multiple boxes of all manner of items to unpack and, of course, pictures to hang in new locations, the latter presenting Kenny Hooks with what appears to be a slight dilemma.