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Ireland’s quarter-final curse continues as All Blacks move on
By PA
Ireland’s World Cup dream was crushed as their quarter-final curse continued with a heartbreaking 28-24 defeat to New Zealand in Paris.
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Andy Farrell’s class of 2023 were bidding to make history by becoming the first Irish team to reach the last four of the tournament.
But they trailed for most of a thrilling contest at Stade de France and were unable to mastermind a stunning comeback as the formidable All Blacks progressed to a semi-final showdown with Argentina.
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Scores from native Kiwis Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park and a penalty try helped keep Ireland within touching distance for the duration of a tense encounter.
However, three-time champions New Zealand underlined their rugby pedigree, with Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan each crossing to pave the way for a nail-biting triumph.
Eight points from the boot of Jordie Barrett and five from Richie Mo’unga helped the All Blacks over the line as they overcame yellow cards for Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor.
A devastating defeat in Saint-Denis halted Ireland’s remarkable winning run at 17 matches, while signalling the end of the career of veteran captain Johnny Sexton, who kicked seven points but missed a crucial penalty.
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Ireland came into a mouthwatering contest in the unfamiliar position of being marginal favourites.
Following a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of Friday’s school attack in the northern French city of Arras, Ireland’s raucous travelling fans drowned out the Haka with a rousing rendition of the Fields of Athenry.
Yet New Zealand shrugged off the hostility and a few nervy mistakes in the opening minutes to lead through early penalties from Mo’unga and Barrett.
Ireland had repelled 30 phases in the build up to the first of those kicks but, despite plenty of possession, were struggling to fully find their usual attacking fluidity.
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Ian Foster’s men had no such issues and duly increased their lead when wing Fainga’anuku – playing instead of Mark Telea, who was dropped for a disciplinary breach – exchanged passes with Rieko Ioane to finish a flowing team move on the left.
Ireland were quickly staring down the barrel of another last-eight exit to add to seven previous ones.
A routine Sexton penalty eventually got them up and running on the scoreboard before Aki superbly evaded five failed tackles to touch down and significantly cut the deficit against the country of his birth.
However, as the tide threatened to turn, the All Blacks were not about to roll over.
With five minutes of the half remaining, Savea dived over on the right to shift the momentum of a helter-skelter encounter back in favour of the southern hemisphere side.
Resilience is a major facet of Farrell’s Ireland and they emerged from an intense opening period just a single point behind.
In the aftermath of Smith’s temporary departure due to a deliberate knock-on, Gibson-Park brilliantly wriggled over from a line-out maul and Sexton again added the extras to leave the contest tantalisingly poised.
New Zealand were doing a decent job of keeping Ireland at arm’s length.
They again stretched the scoreboard in the 54th minute when the impressive Mo’unga exploited a gap between Josh Van Der Flier and Dan Sheehan following a line-out to burst forward and send the jet-heeled Jordan darting for the right corner for a 25-17 advantage.
Ireland suffered another setback when Sexton skewed wide with a three-point attempt at the posts. However, five minutes they were celebrating being awarded a penalty try as Taylor collapsed a maul and was sin-binned.
Barrett missed a penalty but landed another to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the All Blacks going into the anxious final stages.
Ireland desperately pushed for a late twist but ultimately ran out of steam to suffer a first defeat since the opening match of last summer’s stunning Test series victory in New Zealand, leaving a distraught Sexton heading for retirement.
yellow cards are a blight on the game, accidental head clashes, smiths finger tip knock on are not worthy of losing a player for ten minutes, penaltys should be enough
Why not? If you’re not going to penalise it everyone will just be slapping the ball out of a players hands before he can even catch it.
I borrowed this from our (south-africa’s) cricket team:
Why did the Irish rugby team eat in pairs in quater final week?
So that one can help when the other one chokes!
Great win All-Blacks, what a fight. 🍻💪
Well Im a Kiwi and I saw no choking last night.
Hubris. Ireland started to believe the myth that they were invincible.
Didn’t have the forwards to match the ABs.
Four more years.
No mate 50 more years haha
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ireland didn't fall victim to acurse. Ffs. Etc.
Where is turlough with all those declarations that ireland would wipe the floor. Multiple irish pundits claiming not a single ab would make the irish side including bench.
Scrum… Abs dominated
lineout…. Abs won
Breakdown… abs dominated.
Turnovers. Abs
Gainline. Abs
The only thing that kept it close was the cards let's be honest.
It was funny watching ireland team and pundits going through EXACTLY the same mental arc as last ab teams that had big dominance between wcs and got knocked out, while the abs sat quietly and waited then crushed them when the pressure moment arrived.
Just as satisfying as last time, but this time it also retired grubs sexton and mahony. Good job.
Eating some humble Pie I suspect?
More satisfying this time.
Definitely one of canes best games good to see him up the ante with line breaks and inspirational tackles. My heart's still thumping after that final eight minutes.
Argentina next up! Emotional, Fiery, Spoiling? Red cards? Yellow cards? Let’s hope AB’s don’t get sucked into their “spoiling play”
What a message was sent today to everyone.
Hey we had a “Bad” day and we still won! It doesn’t matter how good your “Mental Game” is developed, it’s hard not to try and shrug that off All Black performance.
Have we peaked to soon? We had to get to that “Peak” today to win the game and continue.
We have always had the “Weapons” I think we all know that yet to see them unleash them against the number 1 ranked team was indeed a “Gift from the rugby Gods”
Our whole “pack” stood up and shocked the “Irish” and everyone who watched that game.
It’s 1.39 pm and I have watched it again. Amazing!
What a setup with that ending. That was just great theater with Ireland in their favourite position playing with the ball, testing and pressuring their opponents D. It was going to be destiny if their ball playing was going to take them to unprecedented heights by scoring a try late to beat the All Blacks.
It wasn’t to be. I wouldn’t give up on their game though, perhaps if they play more Southern Hemisphere teams they’ll learn how to make their attack work in the pressure cooker games 😁
I go back to their SA game where they didn’t try to play. Would the choose to play that game differently if they had it again, or this game? Perhaps this game always was just evens, and they played it perfectly?
It was an extraordinary game that the ABs did so well to win. Ireland were hugely impressive but looked to me to be running out of gas with about 20 to go. Not surprising given the workload the starters have carried to get to the 1/4.
What happened to the ABs not having enough up front and being dominated at set piece? Ireland are a fantastic team but they just don't have enough game breaking talent (other than Aki and Sexton).
Could've gone either way towards the end but the ABs forwards were too powerful and more skillful at the breakdown.
A shame to see the Irish leave, but thankfully we don’t need to hear anymore “world no1 Irish” and “the ABs have lost their aura since the historic series loss last year”, load of bollocks, never once acknowledging that the ABs smashed them in the 1st game of that series and would've been No1 had they beat SA 6 weeks ago.
Maybe you should open your other eye. ABs “smashed” Ireland in the first test game? Really? And NZ “would have been no 1. had they beaten SA?”. Without acknowledging that SA smashed NZ in that game? Like badly.
Look NZ are a great team, they well deserved that win yesterday. At the same time I’d love to see a replay without Barnes at the helm.
But Ireland will be back.
Yep I agree Owen it's funny how history can be contextualized, second test was one of those ones is hard to count, down to 14 men for 65 odd minutes and 13 men on two separate occasions, still unfortunately history is what it is. Good to see them come back with that bloody good game today
Ireland would think they let that one slip. Sexton missing a sitter and drop of drop-out critical. If they were within a penalty in the last minutes its hard to see Barnes holding fire and Ireland kicking to win.
They got belted arpund the park
I suspect a casual glance at the analysis will show the Irish forward pack done like a dinner.
Yeah their strategy really blew it. That game was theirs for the taking in that first 10 minutes.
How about a FiJi v AB final? In the immortal words of the Beatles, ‘Let it be!’ Go Fiji!
Always bet on Black. Commiserations to Ireland you did the game great honor. The Black jersey just means so much to kiwis it makes them reach bone deep. To overcome a great Ireland team they needed every ounce of its auspicious history and mana. Thanks Black! As a kiwi fan we are so lucky to have this wonderful legacy and team. For Ireland we know your pain, but be sure you will come back strong!
I think history shows that the ABs of the last 20-30 years haven’t had the passion and mental strength to win the big ones. They have time and again failed to win as favourites. The one time they did pull one out of the fire was under a battered McCaw at home in 2011, but he was an exception. Here as underdogs the mental game was easier, and history shows if they can muster the passion they have the skill to beat anyone on the day.
Bye bye Ireland another Southern Hemisphere team through to semis , France will get throttled by SA .
So much for world rankings , dont result in RWC victory , thanks for the game Ireland you had two opportunities when we had two cards but failed due to our uncompromising defence , so your runs over with your chance at RWC success.
Isnt it ironic at the aftermatch interviews no Irish coach or players acknowledged the All Blacks.
That speaks volumes about the IRISH that’s why they got beaten they thought they were the best.
ABs will continue on their way to a world record Fourth RWC .
Go back and watch what the Irish team have said about the ABs not just last night but all week. Nothing but massive respect towards NZ coming from the Irish team.
That defeat hurt Ireland. Try to show a little grace in victory.
It was an excellent game. A proper battle, where both teams have given their utmost.
Ireland had a distinct possibility to win the game until the last second. Their full time pressure was scary and seemed almost inevitable.
But the ABs persevered and monstered through two yellow card stints.
I still think Ireland have the best team right now, and if it was a series, they’d likely have won. But it isn’t and they haven’t. Such is the nature of RWC QFs. You have to deliver here and now, and how did your last 17 matches go matters naught.
I worry Ireland might not be able to dress a team like this ever again, but for me personally, an Irish team without the likes of Sexton, or O’Mahoney will be much easier to support.
Every World Cup since 2003 has had the “best Irish team ever”. And four years later a better one shows up. True, none of them yet good enough to win a knock out game. But the academies in Ireland are churning out players. Yes, Sexton is / was a generational talent. A once in a lifetime type of player and won’t be matched probably. But still, you have to back the Irish system (and the French one actually) to produce an even better team next time.
Meanwhile the ABs march on. They are a class team and I hope they go on to win it.
Won’t they only be losing those two and Aki (eventually)? It’s a very young team I thought
geezus Thomas want to go best of five or seven until you win it was best of one ,ONE all in …. or out pure and simple ok you missed a few opportyunities it could have gone either way many teams have have had long spells of winning but that 18th has been very hard to crack for the ABs and SA obviously the next one they lost the mental toughness or desire just gets harder to find this time we wanted it more is it so hard to say the obvious
Many Saffas were quietly relieved not to have to deal with the ABs yesterday.
Twickenham was a sneak attack with Fritzel and Retalick injured. This AP performance was always going to come, its the nature of the AB beast.
Whatever France throws at the Boks today, I am still happy we didn't face the All Blacks.
Have to feel for that Irish team as a unit. Porter and some of his mates are annoying and there is a certain satisfaction to ending their campaign but overall, they are a quality group. ABs being branded underdogs was different and always had the potential for being “upset”. A lot to be said for the quality of their group as well and I feel, on the day, even Fozzie could not de-rail the inevitable with the selections pretty good, the senior players pride in the jersey overcoming the obstacles and the team “gelling” after some good wins under their belt. Great game by both sides. After the ABs waiting 24 years between first and second RWC triumphs, we know Ireland’s QF bogie will be gone one day. Just not this year. Go ABS!!!
It really was just a harsh blow to be playing your final in a qf, if they just hadn’t fallen off the rails last time in 19’ and won those easy games they could have avoided this. The dream should still be going for them.
It’s easy to agree regarding their personal, though I also admire people who a comfortable being themselves however theyve grown up (though some show no remorse or don’t really understand who they are, eg Sexton being a psycho), but their ‘rugby’ is what I do feel for. I really hope they keep getting better and prove, much like they All Blacks did after their WC exits, they are the best side (Razor will certainly give the ABs a chance at that tag).
Full credit to the AB’s recent development, that was a big hurdle and falling to the French, if they can get pass a dagnerous Argentina, in the final would be a great result for where they were at.
Did anyone born in Ireland score a try today?
It was 28 - 5 there at the half to the New Zealanders 🤣
Sadly NOT they have star players from other countries. But hey their world cup dreams will continue for the next 5 years as world domination and the Irish will lead the new world order being pundits on tv and sidelines haha
Bravo to the players and staff of the All Blacks. When things didn't go well they were treated disrespectfully by a lot of people, even on their own soil. Today they showed all their class and experience against a truly world-class rival and serious title contender. I'm happy for them. Congratulations!.
I’d talked myself into being okay with an Irish win, and was backing them to go all the way. They’ve been the dominant team for the last couple of years, and a win would’ve been such a big deal for the players and the fans. The ABs played well, but still made some uncharacteristic mistakes. As big as this win was, they still can go up a gear, and Argentina (who I also love) don’t look like having enough to stop the black machine rolling into the final.
That's the same thought process the Irish had against the ABs, don’t go there.
I couldn’t have backed the AB’s with stolen money. They did what they had to do and they did it with “Heart and Skill” and won the game in the first 20 minutes.
Playing catchup in the knockout stages is “a slow death”
Everyone knew who won the first 20 would win the game, except some journalist Elkin.
I saw a different AB’s after 5 minutes.
They blew a hard earned lead. They did everything possible “to lose that game” and they still won. 2 yellow cards and a penalty try and 5 missed tackles on AKI!
Best Test match I have seen ever seen for me apart from my first Test match in 1963 against the Springboks at Lancaster Park.
Can we win the “World Cup” yes we can, with an even better performance than today.
I have been a huge critic of Sam Cane. Today was his best ever performance in the Black jersey and probably one of the “Best performances of any All Black Captain.
Williams and Newell really suprised me. WOW!
I gave AB’s “no show” at all and took a “hiding on the Punt” Now I can see them in the final with France.
The psychological advantage the AB’s have now is enormous.
If we can keep level headed and “a slow build up to Argentina and emulate the mental build up to Ireland and we can win”
Memories are made of this. What a great game and now we have a “real chance” What a day? I was one of those critics.
Knew the ABs would win as they walked on to the field Cane had a look of extreme anger. Sexton looked over and looked scared. I knew my bet was safe.
I remember a Springbok test at Lancaster Park in 1965. Otherwise totally agree with your comments.
Don’t you dare win a series against ABs in NZ, it has a tendency to leave their teeth marks on your bum at crucial times like WC QF even after 8 attempts 🤣
Lucky to win the last one. The hit on guzzler should have been a RCard
Sorry, Ireland, but all week the Irish fans, the media, and even for the first 30 minutes of the game, the commentary team were, Ireland this, Ireland that, Ireland the #1 side in the world. To the point of utter ad nauseam! But you clearly forgot something. Something the French were reminded of in 86, before the played the so-called, Baby All Blacks. The All Blacks will always be the All Blacks. Ireland, you got a taste of that tonight. Damn right!
It wasn’t just the Ireland fans - fans will be fans after all. It was the so-called analysts, including those on this site who write articles, who wrote off the All Blacks. Foolish.
Great game and congratulations to NZ. Worthy victors. On tonight’s performance, the only question is who will they face in the final. I doubt that Argentina can produce the game that will be needed to beat tonight’s ABs.
Sam Came take a bow. Returned the sledge with a dominant performance.
He absolutely shoved omahonys lack of class up his backside. Huge respect
One of his best in a Black jersey
Commiserations for Ireland from an ABs fan. Great team. Terrible draw. Not great to play for two records - equal 18 game win and first time semi.
Soooo glad Ireland lost hate their arrogant fans