New Zealand v Ireland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Ireland make history by winning deciding Test

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.

Victory for Andy Farrell’s side at Forsyth Barr Stadium was a first Irish success over the three-time world champions on New Zealand soil and levelled the series at 1-1 following a 42-19 defeat in Auckland.

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.

Ireland: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Bundee Aki, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe, 10. Johnny Sexton (captain), 9. Jamison Gibson Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. James Ryan, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris,

Replacements: 16. Rob Herring, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. Keith Earls

Ireland maintained momentum going into Saturday’s mouthwatering series decider against New Zealand after a second-string line-up impressively overcame the Maori All Blacks 30-2.

Andy Farrell’s squad will complete their Test trilogy against the All Blacks at Sky Stadium in Wellington and were given an early look at the venue on Tuesday.

With senior players watching from the stands, their understudies battled back from a sloppy start as two tries from Jordan Larmour, plus scores from Nick Timoney and Gavin Coombes, helped avenge defeat to the Maoris in the opening match of the tour.

Rookie fly-half Ciaran Frawley slotted 10 points on a sodden, windy evening in the capital, during which Cian Prendergast and Larmour spent time in the sin bin.

Shaun Stevenson – who claimed one of four Maori scores in the initial meeting – gave the hosts an early lead, before a second-half penalty try and a superb Ruben Love score kept them in contention, prior to Brad Weber’s late consolation.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says his history-making side “back themselves against anyone” after setting up a mouth-watering series decider against New Zealand.

The Irish ended their wait for a first away victory over the All Blacks thanks to Saturday’s stunning 23-12 success in Dunedin.

A milestone victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium came just seven days after the tourists were blitzed 42-19 in Auckland to leave the three-match contest tantalisingly poised at 1-1.

Farrell is braced for a Kiwi backlash during next weekend’s Wellington finale but insists his players return to the North Island brimming with belief.

Last weekend, Ireland claimed a historic first win away to New Zealand to force a series decider following a breathless Dunedin encounter packed with drama.

Andrew Porter twice powered over to help the impressive Irish to a deserved 23-12 victory over the indisciplined All Blacks.

Captain Johnny Sexton – passed fit to play following concussion concerns – added 13 points as Andy Farrell’s side set up a tantalising third and final Test in Wellington thanks to a landmark result.

Replacement All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao was sent off for ploughing into the head of Garry Ringrose at the end of a chaotic 15-minute first-half spell during which teammates Leicester Fainga’anuku and Ofa Tu’ungafasi were sin-binned.

Beauden Barrett’s improvised score and a late Will Jordan try gave the depleted Kiwis hope but they proved powerless to prevent a first home defeat to their opponents, having won the previous 12 meetings.

Ireland plan to unleash “chaos” on New Zealand as they face the All Blacks in a mouth-watering series decider in Wellington.

Andy Farrell’s side have the momentum after claiming a historic first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand, responding brilliantly to their heavy opening defeat.

New Zealand have not lost back-to-back games on home soil since 1998 but Ireland sense the opportunity to deliver a huge statement a year out from the World Cup.

“They’ve got a plan but it’s up to us, like I keep saying, to bring a bit of chaos to that plan,” Farrell said. “And we’ve got to make sure we put a bit of doubt in the All Blacks’ minds as the game goes, like every other game.”

Here’s everything you need to know:

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the third Test between New Zealand and Ireland.

Ireland sense an opportunity to claim one of rugby’s rarest feats as they face New Zealand in a titatic series decider. The All Blacks have not lost a Test series on home soil since 1994 but Ireland’s historic first away victory in Dunedin last weekend sets up a mouth-watering final clash.

New Zealand are under pressure to respond, with head coach Ian Foster on thin ice a year out from the World Cup, and their opening victory over the Irish at Eden Park now feels like a distant memory.

Ireland captain Jonny Sexton has called on his team to deliver their “performance of the season” while head coach Andy Farrell says the opportunity to pull off a series victory over the All Blacks is “like gold dust”.

Stick with us as we guide you through all the action from Wellington.