All Blacks' 2006 fixtures all but confirmed

The dates for next year's Tri Nations matches as well as the dates for the All Blacks' June internationals have been confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The All Blacks will play two Tests against Ireland in June – at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, on Saturday 10 June, and at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 17 June.

The All Blacks will also play Argentina next year, as per the IRB International Matches and Tours Schedule. The All Blacks will fly to Argentina to play the one-off Test on Saturday 24 June.

All Black coach Graham Henry said playing Argentina at home would be a major challenge for the All Blacks and he rated them "one of international rugby's most improved sides" over the last few years.

"They held the British and Irish Lions to a draw earlier this year and beat France in Marseilles, the stronghold of French rugby, last year. New Zealand fans will also remember the last time the All Blacks played Argentina over there they just got home with a 24-20 win," he said.

Two weeks after the Argentina Test, the All Blacks will kick off the expanded Tri Nations competition when they defend the Bledisloe Cup against Australia at Christchurch on 8 July.

Their next match is on Saturday 22 July at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, against South Africa followed by another Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday 29 July.

The All Blacks will again play Australia on Friday 18 August or Saturday 19 August at Eden Park before finishing their Tri Nations campaign in South Africa with two matches against the Springboks, on Saturday 26 August and Saturday 2 September.

NZRU Deputy Chief Executive Steve Tew said the only date to be confirmed was the All Blacks match against Australia at Eden Park.

"There is a possibility that the match will be played on Friday the 18th of August to give the All Blacks an extra day to recover before the long flight to South Africa," he said.

ALL BLACKS' 2006 TEST SCHEDULE

Internationals

Sat 10 June New Zealand v Ireland Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Sat 17 June New Zealand v Ireland Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 24 June New Zealand v Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina

Philips Tri Nations

Sat 8 July New Zealand v Australia Jade Stadium, Christchurch
Sat 15 July Australia v South Africa TBC, Brisbane
Sat 22 July New Zealand v South Africa Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sat 29 July Australia v New Zealand Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sat 5 August Australia v South Africa TBC, Sydney
Fri 18/Sat 19 Aug New Zealand v Australia Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 26 August South Africa v New Zealand TBC
Sat 2 September South Africa v New Zealand TBC
Sat 9 September South Africa v Australia TBC