Patrick Tuipulotu celebrates scoring the first of New Zealand’s six tries as they defeated Ireland 40-21 in the Nations Championship at Eden Park. Photograph: Nations Championship/Getty Images

New Zealand ended the July leg of the inaugural Nations Championship with a statement 40-21 win over Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday, finishing the southern series unbeaten and extending their remarkable run at the Auckland venue to 53 matches without defeat.

The scoreline reflected where the contest was decided. New Zealand were dominant through forward power in scoring positions, sharper in transition and far more ruthless when Ireland’s accuracy dipped. By half-time the All Blacks had built a 28-7 lead, and although Ireland responded after the break, they never got close enough to seriously threaten the result.

Ireland arrived in Auckland with victories over Australia and Japan and restored much of their frontline group for the final round. Dan Sheehan returned to captain the side, with Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Furlong all back in the starting XV. New Zealand, also two wins from two after edging France 34-32 and beating Italy 47-17, made four changes, with Josh Moorby handed his first Test start and Tupou Vaa’i shifted to blindside flanker.

Where New Zealand were dominant over Ireland was first in the red-zone battle. Ireland repeatedly gave away penalties in their own 22, and the All Blacks punished them with force and precision. Patrick Tuipulotu opened the scoring after Josh Lord put him through a gap close to the line, and Ardie Savea then struck from a five-metre scrum as New Zealand’s close-range power stretched the Irish defence.

The second area was turnover pressure and punishment of errors. Ireland had moments of initiative, but too many promising attacks broke down through dropped ball, high-risk passing and handling mistakes. New Zealand pounced on those lapses. Will Jordan crossed almost immediately after Jack Conan had given Ireland a foothold, collecting from a loose Irish pass between forwards. Just before the break, Ruben Love’s 50:22 turned another Irish mistake into territory, and the pressure from the ensuing sequence ended with Asafo Aumua driving over for a fourth New Zealand try and a commanding interval advantage.

The third point of difference was the All Blacks’ carrying game in midfield and around the gainline. Quinn Tupaea repeatedly dented the line, while Cam Roigard and Love kept New Zealand moving at tempo. Even when Ireland rallied in the second half through Joe McCarthy and later Hugo Keenan, New Zealand were able to restore control. Another Irish penalty in their own 22 led to Damian McKenzie’s try, and Anton Lienert-Brown’s late finish underlined the hosts’ superior depth and late-game accuracy.

Ireland did show resilience. Conan’s first-half try and McCarthy’s score soon after the restart offered a route back, while Keenan’s late finish rewarded sustained pressure after a Prendergast kick to the corner. But the broader picture was clear: New Zealand were more clinical, more physical when the field tightened, and more dangerous the moment broken play appeared.

For the All Blacks, the win backs up a strong opening to the Dave Rennie era and preserves Eden Park as one of world rugby’s hardest places to win. For Ireland, the result ends the week with a reminder that even after a promising start to the competition, accuracy and discipline remain non-negotiable against New Zealand in Auckland.