In June 2012, Ireland toured New Zealand playing three Tests against the All Blacks. The Irish tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations. It was marketed as the 'Steinlager Series'.
In planning the series, it was anticipated that Ireland would also face provincial and Māori opposition, however, to allow Ireland to focus on the Tests, the IRFU decided that there would be no mid-week fixtures.
New Zealand won the series 3–0. In the third and final Test in Hamilton on 23 June, the All Blacks won 60–0, inflicting upon Ireland their largest-ever defeat.