1
This might be the All Blacks' greatest knockout win of all-time and that's the danger
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks 28-24 win over Ireland in the quarter-final was a pulsating, titanic battle between two contenders that came down to one inch as Jordie Barrett held up hooker Ronan Kelleher detaching from the Irish maul.
ADVERTISEMENT
That one play with nine minute remaining is massively responsible for sending the world’s number one side out of the Rugby World Cup. It wasn’t the last play, which was Sam Whitelock’s steal after 37 phases of Irish attack, but it was the most important.
Decided by one inch, Barrett’s heroic tackle signifies the closeness of the battle and the fine margins that it came down to.
To suggest Ireland choked is an inaccurate assessment of what happened. They countered twice from 13-0 down and 18-10 to take the fight to the end. Going within one point multiple times.
If not for Barrett’s effort they would have taken the lead 29-28 with the kick to come and about six minutes to play.
Ireland did not choke and it doesn’t matter that they couldn’t shake the quarter-final exit tag either.
There is no moral victory in semi-final or final losses for either of these two sides, who were both genuine contenders for the Rugby World Cup. Success for both was win it all or go home with nothing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ireland had a side capable of winning it all and won’t. If the All Blacks lose either the semi or final, their campaign will be a failure as well.
This was a great contest between the powers of the game for a quarter-final for the ages.
When Leicester Fainga’anuku crossed for the first try after linking up with Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett, it symbolised just how far the All Blacks backline has come since the ill-fated Ireland series.
Fainga’anuku debuted in that series and after the second Test he was dropped completely. Without him on the field in the third Test everything was out of sorts.
In that series Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett, then playing fullback, had no ability to link and create space from static ball.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Beauden Barrett had recovered a chip in behind Ireland’s line in the 18th minute, the All Blacks played their classic brand of free-form attack. Just play to the edge quickly, make quick decisions and attack the space.
Jordie Barrett held the outside space to free Fainganuku, who combined with Ioane from a 1-2 touch with a genius pass back inside to his winger to crash over and extend the lead to 13-0.
Just over twelve months ago these same combinations could not produce anything like that. Not for lack of talent or ability but for no shared understanding, trust or chemsitry.
Ioane continued to show his growth as a 13 with another deft assist for Ardie Savea to score in the corner just before half-time.
The Rieko Ioane move to the midfield has been one of Ian Foster’s biggest investments and calls of faith during his tenure. He has believed in Ioane all the way and stuck through the growing pains.
Ioane’s game improved out of sight down the stretch in 2022 after Joe Schmidt joined the coaching set-up and he repaid Foster’s faith with two try assists against statistically the best defence in world rugby in 2023.
Richie Mo’unga, who did not start during last year’s Ireland series, has been integral to rebuilding the All Blacks backline too. His best showings in a black jersey have come along with Schmidt’s arrival.
He ripped Ireland for a gut-punch of a play in the 52nd minute to blow open the game from a lineout. As he has so often done for the Crusaders, he ghosted through Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier with an inside show-and-go.
Blazing through the Irish backfield defence he manoeuvred perfectly to ensure that James Lowe couldn’t cover enough ground on Will Jordan, the perfect player to find in support to finish off the strike.
It was a game of big plays and the All Blacks made just enough to beat Ireland despite suffering two yellow cards.
Mack Hansen’s cross-field kick bounced too high for Dan Sheehan on the wing with an open line begging. Both sides had red zone visits erased by big breakdown penalties, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane combined to snub an Irish one out. Johnny Sexton missed a key penalty which cost Ireland dearly.
The biggest play of them all was Jordie Barrett’s miraculous tackle to hold up hooker Ronan Kelleher diving over the line after he detached from the maul.
The context of this win might be the greatest All Blacks’ World Cup knockout win of all-time. Outside of World Cup finals, it has a strong case.
They haven’t had to beat the world’s number one team before due to always holding that tag themselves. Given the recent history between these two rivals and the historic series loss at home, they were rightly priced as underdogs.
To defend for 37 phases without conceding a penalty in this day and age is a nearly implausible. But that’s what it took to deny a quality Irish side of progressing.
The biggest danger for the All Blacks is next. Plenty of teams have emptied the tank in underdog knockout victories only to have their euphoric state smashed to bits the next week.
In 2019 it was England, in 2007 it was France.
Although the All Blacks will be hot favourites to dispatch Argentina, do not forget that Los Pumas beat Foster’s side last year. Or that they handed them a first ever defeat in 2020.
The curse of this game is that it was a final before the final. When teams play their final before the final, we know what can happen. It is hard to get up again after investing so much emotion into it. Even more so the All Blacks had revenge in mind so the intensity of the preparation is heightened.
Most people die on Mt Everest on the way down, not climbing up. Aaron Smith crying his eyes out at full-time will be exactly what Argentina want to see.
David Kidwell’s defence has stuffed this All Blacks side twice before and a third time next week would be most untimely.
But for now this one can be added high on the list on the All Blacks’ World Cup legacy.
Yes Ben. And it might well be their last knock out win as well.
Is this writer the ex All Black?
For anyone reading the comments, do yourself a favour and go and read the last 15 articles by this guy. Clearly he doesn’t have a single clue what’s going on. Stick to investment banking chap, I can only hope you know what’s going on there 👍🏼
A few weeks ago Mr Ben Smith tweeted that neither NZ nor SA deserve to win the RWC - “we need to bring back integrity to the title of World Champs”.
Another bonehead like comment - what egg on his face today!
NZ and SA are historically the best two teams ever, they have 6 rugby world cups between them.
Mr Smith, form is temporary, class, experience and BMT matter most under knockout rugby.
What a final it should be (NZ and SA still need to beat Eng and Arg to get there) if we see these giants play in the final.
Mr Smith, your immature, arrogant, conceited and pathetic comments make you look the fool.
Do better
When you kick for the corner and the rolling maul and expect a try as opposed to a kick for goal the odds of scoring a try is 2/7 or 28%
Sexton kicking stats 76% Dhuuuuur
.
Stop fabricating and twisting stats. If you want to make this comparison it’s not Sexton’s overall kicking success that’s relevant, it’s the goal kicking stats for the angles of kicks he kicks to the corner (usually more difficult angles) Dhuuuuur
All Blacks need some “Adrenalin” this week in their build up to Argentina. After a “Huge” shot during Irish game, the body will be “craving” Just like an addict. Sometimes seen as “feeling a bit flat”
after a huge effort and those great feelings of euphoria.
Must be treated as a team and not as an individual.
This phenomenon has been the downfall of so many top Sport’s Teams.
I gave them no show before the Ireland, now we would have to be a real contender. Who would have thought? Amazing and hopefully
they will “Destroy Argentina” as a build up to the final.
I don’t think Argentina are going to be a walk over. The ABs should beat them on paper and form. But the opportunity to play in a final will be enough to raise the Argentinians to higher level. The ABs too. Nothing to be taken for granted. I suspect there may be 1 upset this weekend…
Shudders to think.
Wow. You guys lied calling Ireland arrogant due to some fabricated bullshit in one of your rag papers.
Now you are going to ‘destroy’ Argentina ‘as a build up’ to the final are you?
Arrogant git.
yes, think France in 2007 and England in 2019. Neither team could climb Everest again the following week.
Maybe some of that “breaking team protocol” stuff could give them a little boost? A bender in Paris?
I note coach Farrell and capt Sexton struggled to say All Blacks or NZ at their press conferance , in fact very similar to Simon Middleton and Sarah Hunters press conferance when they lost RWCW and a 30 game winning streak to Blackferns arrogance must be a Northern Hemisphere thing.
By contrast i watched coach Foster mingle and shakehands with everyone on the field and at the press conferance he along with captain Cane praised the Irish for a hard fought game to the end.
Ireland along with Rugbypass and other media outlets played the game in the press while Fosters men trained well stayed away from all the hype and dramas , which showed in game day.
Johnny Sexton was usless his best moment was when he tried to milk another yellow card but failed.
Farrell like father like son .
Ireland got whar they deserved a big wake up call.
Chips and shoulders.
If kiwis lose, we always back the boks!
SH Till I Die
Nice article! Don't forget though, nz have revenge in mind against sa, and for that quarter final against France. It will be tough to put in such a great performance 3 weeks in a row, it will be the greatest Nz world cup if we can.
Very true Ben - today leave this game behind and start from zero towards Argentina
Not a good result, well done to the “Blitzkrieg All Blacks” K.O.
Last night every Saffa supporter rooted AB why? The Irish were too arrogant
Funny how people think one moment was more significant than other moments. I thought all those scrum penalties played a part. Especially after hearing about how weak the NZ pack was meant to be.
Well done to the All Blacks. Epic match. Thrilling edge of the seat stuff. All the other SAFAS I know were supporting the Ab’s last night. My son works on a cruise liner up near Canada, and he says every South African on the liner were behind our brothers from NZ.
So what happened to Woodward's “all NH semifinals”?
2 NH gone. The other 2 NH sides going home tonight.
Hoping we can pull this one through against France.
Hoping for a Boks vs NZ final.
Go Bokke!
Support the BOKd lads. We need all of the good wishes 🙏
Fiji so close to an upset. Great, edge of your seat game.
At least the boks have an England Semi-Final to look forward to.
Doesn’t take much to get a Bok up for an England game.
Beware Silk, you Woodwardise yourself ! 😂 Sorry for SA fans but we’ll have a -perfect- France - New Zeland in final 😉
We need the support yes
The ABs pitched up and showed us something different in this game. The phases were exceptional. And despite the criticism of their “outdated” and “version 1.0 Wayne Smith defensive structure” they looked great on defense.
The ABs stepped up. Well done and congrats to NZ all around!
Ireland definitely choked.
They looked predictable on attack with “everything going though Sexton” being part of the problem. Compared to the interchange in playmaking between Jordy, Beauden and Richie.
They couldn’t beat NZ who were down to 14 twice sums it up for me. Richie covering 9 and how the ABs adapted throughout the game.
Agree with much of your analysis except for your classification of the Irish as chokers. To choke they needed to have bombed a lead or gone in as overwhelming favourites. Neither was the case, many who understand rugby knew not to write the ABs off. It was an epic game that demanded a loser which could easily have been either team. Many New Zealanders know this team is not unbeatable, under Foster they've been consistently inconsistent. As New Zealanders we know what it's like to get knocked out of a Cup going in with the belief you could win it. It hurts. Bounce back Ireland we love your rugby.
AB’s deserved to win this one.
This was the first great test match of this World Cup.. in my opinion.
Has Mahoney any thing further to say… and Sexton can just F… off.
Yes man this mofos were too arrogant No one in South would think they are legendary…They were disrespectful to AB and Boks
Fuuuuuuuuk them losers
You must have missed the Ireland vs South Africa game then. Who’s “Mahoney”? Were you watching Police Academy?
Fair play to NZ though. They produced a performance when it mattered.
There is no perfect competition yet Ben likes to qualify cup winners by how relatively easier their path may or may not have been, he does so for click bait as he does here with mention of Ireland choking.
Definitely don't think the irish choked. ABS just played a higher level game. Irish definitely not used to having that thrown at them, of late at least. When you can come back from two yellow cards and penalty try and still take the choccys you have to be playing some pretty damn good rugby. I don't think they'll have too much trouble getting up for the next game hopefully two.
4 minutes to go, against my advice to Aaron, he box kicks to give Ireland possession. Nearly 40 phases saved by Barnes.
Aaron must be banned from giving possession away.
Aaron would have been crying for good reason but for staunchness of ABs resistance.
Aaron , don’t do it again.
Disagree. The most important thing at that point was territory. Get out of our half. Too easy to give away a penalty turnover on half way, then Ireland kick for touch deep into your 22. The lowest risk option is to put up a contestable inside the Irish half like Smith did. We know that in tight world cup games it's hard for a team chasing the game from inside their own half. I was surprised the Irish got as close to our line as they did.
100%. It was actually 3 minutes, we’re on halfway carrying well, doing pistons, all is under control, Ireland not even close to a jackal, nek minit, IDIOT. Even me ole mum profanitised lol.
Agree - couldn’t believe he did that!
Totally agree Pecos. We certainly tried to help the Irish. The second time I watched the game, I saw how accurate the Al Blacks actually were, apart from the two yellow cards and the penalty try.
God we were lucky, I must admit.
Porter usually gets his own way. When he didn’t he began to get rattled.
I honestly thought that Sexton was injured, he was that slow.
I have been a critic of our Front Row. How come today they were so good.? I think Porter was having a “Nightmare on Elm Street”
I am sure they “upset their structures” and that was their first goal in their game plan.
Is Mike Cron over there? Looked like some vintage Cronno tricks were used?
Porters angling in was blatant and picked up at last. And he then proved he didn't know how to go in straight by getting penalised again for the same. When the Irish beat us at home their forwards dominated ours (beside Scott Barret). In this game our forwards dominated theirs. Frizzel is turning in to a Kaino which is so important to good AB rugby
Pecos. What is the difference between “missing critical moments” and choking.
I see “choking” as anxiety caused by overthinking, when your structures aren’t working.
Ireland have made an “Art Form” out of structures. Everyone knows where they have to be at any given time.
As Hansen said, “Play what is front of you” as opposed to structured play.
Exactly what Richie Mounga did to put Jordan over or
The Beaudie chip, which resulted in a try to Faianga Unuku.
We played the “moments” and got the rub of the green.
I think we have forgotten how good the All Blacks are at ‘Micro - skills” It’s been a while!
The bar is higher for the number 1 team playing the underdog. True, there’s “anxiety” choking, but there’s also “expectation” choking. The “help” the ABs gave this Irish team, especially the 2 yellows, was next level. They should’ve nailed it. But choked.
I have never heard that term “Copy Pasta” before Jon. I do now.
Thank you for your help Jon. I hope you enjoyed the game.
Will we win the RWC 2023?
Anyway you have a great day and I hope you are enjoying it as much as we are?
I gave 2/1 on the All Blacks. . . Got absolutely hammered. . .
Phone hasn’t stopped and some great “gloating” by some happy mates.
Have to hope SOULCOME can win on the First Tuesday in November.
Enjoy this very “Special Day Jon”
How can anyone say IRELAND “choked” or were you watching a different game to me?
I thought this game was to “frantic a pace for SEXTON” He looked “gassed and slow” His passes were slow and so was he.
Everyone in the All Blacks stood up today in a red hot caldron.
Ireland didn’t “change their game” and the All Blacks contested everything and surprised Ireland and the World with their total commitment.
The great SEXTON was the most surprised. He didn’t adapt. Failed to lead. When the general doesn’t have the answers the army is in strife.
Game over.
All Black’s attacked their “Structures” and we played what was in front of us, with a “skillset” which Ireland didn’t have today.
Barrett’s little chip, which led to Faianga nuku try and Mounga’s brilliant burst to put Jordan over.
They were out defended. Out played and out Captained.
Jordy Barrett’s try saver prevented Ireland from going to the Semi Final by an INCH?
Ireland never “choked” we just took key moments.
Of course they choked. They played against 14 men for a quarter of the game & still couldn’t nail a win. As Dagg said in commentary, the ABs did their best to gift Ireland the game. Few examples, silly penalty from Frizell costing 3, poor exits from Mounga, Smith, missed tackles from Jordan & Frizell leading to tries by Gibson Park & Bundee, putting Whitelock up when we just subbed in our young props resulting in maul penalty try & yellow card. We were great when it mattered but the game was there for Ireland’s taking. Choke choke choke.
All you posts look like copy pasta mate 😂
It’s the formatting
Yep. Argentina has beaten the All Blacks twice - home and away - in this last cycle. The last one, in particular, was after NZ had a big win against SA. They can’t afford to take their foot off the pedal - Argentina is a serious threat.
Every team the abs go up against is a threat. They are under no illusion regarding the progress of other sides coming up to their level. To help stay ahead the abs can call upon 100 years of experience and a wold class record of winning.
Mate, a few days ago you were gushing about Ireland and how Sexton is the GOAT.
You even went as far as to say SA and NZ don’t deserve to win.
You are an absolute joke. Immature, conceited, arrogant and unprofessional.
Ireland choked.
Your right Pecos, they choked under the white hot scrutiny of expectation. Like we've done before, ‘95 ‘99 ‘07. Still get choked up about it lol.