New Zealand vs Ireland - Rugby World Cup quarter-final: All Blacks hand Irish brutal lesson - 5 things we learned
New Zealand 46-14 Ireland: Robbie Henshaw's score and a penalty try salvaged some pride in a one-sided quarter-final at the Tokyo Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand powered past Ireland 41-14 to deliver an ominous sign for their rivals in pursuit of retaining the World Cup.
Aaron Smith’s quick thinking ensured the All Blacks stormed into an early lead; diving low from close range for a pair of tries.
Their expansive game soon followed, with Beauden Barrett capitalising on a clever kick into space, collecting after blowing the Irish away in a foot race and collecting his second try of the tournament.
A now exhausted Ireland were then ground down by New Zealand’s mauling, with Matt Todd adding the finishing touch to a gruelling try. Robbie Henshaw scored late on to ensure the Irish did not become the first side to ever lose a World Cup knock-out match to nil, before adding another score through a penalty try, but it was all too little, too late.
England now await in the semi-finals, here are five things we learned from Tokyo.
Sloppy errors cost Irish
Of course, it’s a product of the opponents. The relentless barrage of pressure, constantly surrendering possession and territory to New Zealand’s frothing forward pack. The backs constantly toying at the seams at Joe Schmidt’s panicked defence. When hope is crumbling away so starkly as it did in the first-half in Tokyo, Ireland's relief at just receiving ball and then the desperate jolt of needing to conjure something from nothing can be overawing.
Yet the litany of mistakes that underpinned Ireland’s rocking horse start were still so elementary. Nine handling errors spread nerves virally, and 12 penalties mindlessly conceded unhinging every sniff of pressure, as Ireland reeled back into their shells, too cautious to risk invention and rouse a fightback. The systematic nature that saw Ireland humble the All Blacks in Dublin a dissipating memory in the face of a total desertion of the basics.
Smith undoes Ireland with quick thinking
New Zealand’s relentless pressure saw Ireland under heavy pressure inside the opening 20 minutes.
Wave after wave, with the speed of service at the breakdown wearing Ireland down.
It was Aaron Smith’s instinct helped the All Blacks finally break Irish resistance twice though.
The compact scrum half wriggled free twice, diving beneath a sea of green bodies as the holders surged into an early lead.
Irish worn down under pressure
An uphill task was made even more arduous for Ireland by the relentless pace set by the All Blacks, which left Joe Schmidt’s side on the back foot.
They temporarily lost defensive lynchpin Garry Ringrose after a cut above his eye following a horrible clash of heads with teammate Robbie Henshaw, further illustrating the strain New Zealand were putting on the Irish.
Mistakes began creeping into Ireland’s game with New Zealand gleefully exposing them, including Jacob Stockdale, who might’ve been sin-binned another day after leading with one hand in an attempt to intercept.
Barrett and All Blacks pays tribute to grandfather Ted
The All Blacks are known for their togetherness that binds them in their quest for supremacy.
And their players wore black armbands in Tokyo in tribute to Edward ‘Ted’ Barrett, the grandfather of Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett.
Beauden was in particularly inspiring form, nudging the ball towards the line with his feet before gathering for the third try of the match.
The full-back then brought out his box of tricks, narrowly missing out on a second try after a clever chip-and-run, in a performance his grandad would have been proud of.
Ireland lack imagination before it's too late
Ireland knew this would be tough, but even still, this was a disturbingly uninspiring display.
Joe Schmidt’s side simply could not structure any moves capable of breaking down the tight defence of New Zealand.
They resorted to desperate tactics in search of an unlikely route back into the game, kicking without any success.
To their credit, late success with tries from Robbie Henshaw and a penalty try salvaged pride through sheer desire and guts, but the invention and imagination was not there when it was needed.
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