| Ireland: (17) 24 |
| Tries: Aki, Gibson-Park, penalty attempt Cons: Sexton 2 Pen: Sexton |
| New Zealand: (18) 28 |
| Tries: Fainga’anuku, Savea, Jordan Cons: Mo’unga, J Barrett Pens: Mo’unga, J Barrett 2 |
Ireland’s World Cup dream was ended by New Zealand for the second match in a row because the All Blacks deservedly beat their rivals in Paris to set up a semi-final towards Argentina.
As the world’s top-ranked workforce, Ireland had been fancied to at the very least attain the semi-finals for the primary time however Andy Farrell’s aspect did not break their quarter-final curse on one other heartbreaking night time towards the All Blacks within the World Cup.
Defeat additionally brings the curtain down on the profession of Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, who reduce a dejected determine at full-time because the agony of 1 final knockout defeat took over.
New Zealand, nevertheless, stay heading in the right direction for a fourth title as tries by Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan helped them set up a last-four assembly with the Pumas at Stade de France on Friday.
Ireland’s tries got here by means of New Zealand-born gamers Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park, and a penalty attempt, however there was to be no dramatic late comeback regardless of being roared on by the loud Irish contingent of the 78,845-strong crowd.
New Zealand had two gamers – Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor – yellow carded however Ian Foster’s aspect had been capable of stand up to strain and actual revenge after shedding final 12 months’s Test sequence to the Irish on house soil.
It was one other absorbing entry into this nice rivalry, and whereas Ireland pushed for a match-winning attempt proper to the tip, it was the New Zealand gamers with their arms within the air at full-time after a herculean defensive effort as these in inexperienced collapsed to the pitch in devastation.
Defeat ends each Ireland’s 17-match profitable run and their hopes of emulating England’s 2003 workforce by profitable a Six Nations Grand Slam and World Cup double.
The All Blacks, nevertheless, will really feel massively assured heading right into a semi-final towards Argentina, who beat Wales 29-17 earlier on Saturday in Marseille on a day when the southern hemisphere sides accomplished a powerful double.
All Blacks begin strongly once more
With the sense of rivalry constructed up by New Zealand’s 2019 quarter-final win and Ireland’s sequence triumph on Kiwi soil final 12 months, this was simply one of the eagerly anticipated World Cup knockout video games in years, the pre-match ambiance rivalling the All Blacks’ loss to France within the opening recreation and the memorable Irish win over South Africa three weeks in the past.
In stark distinction to 2019, Ireland had been being talked about as pre-match favourites as they seemed to finish 36 years of damage within the quarter-finals.
For New Zealand, this was seen as a tantalising alternative to not solely get revenge on Ireland, however to re-establish the aura and worry issue that the All Blacks jersey has misplaced lately. They did simply that.
In the 2019 quarter-final, the All Blacks roared right into a 22-0 half-time lead, and whereas Ireland’s first-half return was a lot more healthy right here, it was the three-time champions who had been in management on the break.
Given the magnitude of the event, each groups confirmed nerves in the course of the opening exchanges nevertheless it was New Zealand who settled faster, with Richie Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett penalties placing them 6-0 up.
Ireland had been devastating in swatting apart Scotland final week, however struggled to construct early momentum right here, permitting the All Blacks to tug additional clear when Beauden Barrett chipped ahead, gathered and Fainga’anuku completed within the nook.
Aki, in all probability Ireland’s participant of the match, dragged his workforce again into it with an excellent end however the All Blacks hit again simply six minutes later when Savea capped one other interval of sustained New Zealand strain by diving over.
However, Mo’unga – who earlier prevented punishment for a excessive sort out on Aki – missed his conversion and there was additional frustration for the All Blacks when scrum-half Aaron Smith was yellow carded for intentionally knocking the ball on.
And when Smith’s Auckland-born reverse quantity Gibson-Park produced an excellent end in one of many final performs of the half, it felt for the primary time like Ireland had seized momentum.
With Smith having returned to the pitch, the All Blacks turned up the warmth on the Irish once more after 52 minutes when Jordan crossed after a blistering, defence-puncturing burst by Mo’unga.
Sexton’s missed penalty added to Ireland’s woes however they got a lifeline when Taylor collapsed the Irish maul and referee Wayne Barnes awarded the penalty attempt to once more scale back New Zealand’s result in the minimal.
However, having missed a penalty, Jordie Barrett nailed a long-range kick to push the lead again out to 4 earlier than denying Ireland a attempt on the different finish when he held up Ronan Kelleher with a significant, last-ditch intervention.
Ireland pushed for a last-gasp attempt however the All Blacks withstood 40 phases of strain within the closing levels to assert a momentous win over their rivals and go away Sexton and his Irish team-mates to replicate on an excruciating eighth quarter-final defeat.
Line-ups
Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Henderson; O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, McCarthy, Conan, Murray, Crowley, O’Brien.
New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Fainga’anuku; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.
Replacements: Coles, Williams, Newell, Whitelock, Papali’i, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.
Match officers
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Touch judges: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
