Ireland v New Zealand LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 score and result as All Blacks win epic quarter-final

The All Blacks produced a sensational performance to win an epic duel and knock out the world No 1-ranked Ireland

Ireland continue preparations for New Zealand clash

Ireland have been knocked out of the World Cup following a 28-24 quarter-final defeat to New Zealand at Stade de France.

The momentum of a tight match shifted in Ireland’s favour in the second half when they were awarded a penalty try after Codie Taylor collapsed a maul, bringing themselves back to within a point and their cause was further boosted when the All Blacks hooker was sin-binned for his infringement.

But 14-man New Zealand opened up a four-point cushion five minutes later when Jordie Barrett – who had missed a long-range attempt moments later – kicked a penalty from the 40-metre line.

Ireland, who had been playing catch-up for the majority of an exhilarating encounter, were unable to find the try they needed in the closing stages as the All Blacks held on to seal a 28-24 win and set up a last-four meeting with Argentina next Friday.

Follow all the reaction from Paris below, get all the latest Rugby World Cup odds here.

Ireland vs New Zealand live

• Ireland take on New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
• Argentina await winner in semi-finals after seeing off Wales
• Penalty! Ireland 0-3 New Zealand (Mo’unga)
• Penalty! Ireland 0-6 New Zealand (J Barrett)
• Try! Ireland 0-13 New Zealand (Fainga’anuku)
• Penalty! Ireland 3-13 New Zealand (Sexton)
• Try! Ireland 10-13 New Zealand (Aki)
• Try! Ireland 10-18 New Zealand (Savea)
• Yellow card! New Zealand (Smith)
• Try! Ireland 17-18 New Zealand (Gibson-Park)
• Half-time: Ireland 17-18 New Zealand
• Try! Ireland 17-25 New Zealand (Jordan)
• Penalty try and yellow card! Ireland 24-25 New Zealand (Taylor)
• Penalty! Ireland 24-28 New Zealand (J Barrett)
• Full-time! Ireland 24-28 New Zealand

[14 October 2023 18:33 · Lawrence Ostlere]

When rugby answered Ireland’s call

Before the 1995 World Cup, the IRFU finally addressed the issue and commissioned Phil Coulter to write a song. Ireland’s Call was born, which spoke of the four proud provinces of the country, but without reference to war and bloodshed.

Replacing a national anthem could never hope to meet with immediate approval, and for a long time this song about standing tall saw many sit in stony silence before it slowly gained popularity, and finally came of age in 2007 at Croke Park.

The arrival of England’s rugby team in 2007 and the playing of God Save the Queen was seen as the real watershed moment. The Irish crowd stood respectfully for the visitors’ anthem and applauded afterwards, and then came a spine-tingling rendition of Ireland’s Call, finally sung loudly and proudly.

It will surely be sung with a similar passion on Saturday night, and if Ireland make it to a World Cup semi-final for the first time, this Irish team will certainly have answered Ireland’s call.

Part 2/2

[14 October 2023 18:30 · Lawrence Ostlere]

When rugby answered Ireland’s call

Ireland hope to end their Rugby World Cup quarter-final curse when they face New Zealand tonight, and before the game their players will stand shoulder to shoulder to sing Ireland’s Call, but it’s a song which is not the official Irish anthem.

The national anthem is Amhran na bhFiann (The Soldier’s Song) but for a team representing the whole island, the anthem often caused debate.

Ireland was partitioned in 1921, and while football split with the island into separate associations, the Irish Rugby Federation (IRFU) was able to agree on issues such as where games would be played, the anthem, and they introduced their own flag. Many other sports have maintained one governing body, including cricket, hockey, basketball and tennis.

Originally, when Ireland played rugby in Dublin the Irish anthem was played, and God Save the King was used in Belfast. As no games were played north of the border between 1954 and 2007 the debate subsided somewhat, at least until 1987. This was the year of the first Rugby World Cup, but in April, as players from Northern Ireland travelled to Dublin for training they were caught up in an IRA bombing, which ended the playing career of Nigel Carr.

When Ireland arrived in Australia and New Zealand for the tournament, the IRFU decided against using the Irish anthem, but players complained that they would be the only team without one. A recording of an old Irish ballad, The Rose of Tralee, was found, and as the crackly cassette version played over the speakers before their opening game with Wales, the Irish players huddled almost in embarrassment. They lost that game, and while nobody blamed the song choice, it was never heard again at an Ireland international. For the rest of that tournament Ireland were once more without an anthem.

part 1/2

Ireland sing their rugby anthem (AFP via Getty Images)

[14 October 2023 18:24 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Argentina scrap their way to Rugby World Cup semi-finals as Wales come up short

Louis Rees-Zammit leapt for the corner, and came down with an anguished cry. A scrappy contest always looked likely to be a game of inches - and the Wales wing had come up agonisingly short.

By the end, there were bodies strewn right around the Stade Velodrome, the damage of a demolition derby all too clear to see. Argentina won’t remotely care. Their win was made secure at the death, replacement fly half Nicolas Sanchez plucking an intercept score from opposite number Sam Costelow to take Argentina out of sight. Ireland or New Zealand await in the World Cup semi-finals - the challenge is mighty but Los Pumas live to fight another day; Wales are going home.

By Harry Latham-Coyle in Marseille:

[14 October 2023 18:20 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Talking points: Disciplinary disruption

New Zealand’s preparations have been disrupted by a disciplinary storm in the build-up to the clash. Star wing Mark Telea misses out after being dropped due to a breach of team protocol. Foster insisted the issue was “nothing major” but still felt compelled to punish a player whose emergence on the international scene has been central to the All Blacks’ improvement since their series defeat to Ireland last July. Telea, who is believed to have broken a curfew, has three tries in the tournament, including a double in the opening-night defeat to hosts France. Leicester Fainga’anuku is the man to benefit after claiming a hat-trick in the Pool A thrashing of Uruguay.

[14 October 2023 18:15 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Talking points: Return of the Mack

Ireland were nursing a few concerning injury issues following a bruising Pool B finale against Scotland. Yet head coach Farrell has been able to name an unchanged starting XV. Mack Hansen looked to be a major doubt after sitting out training early in the week but took part in Friday’s captain’s run with a heavily-strapped right calf. Fellow wing James Lowe (eye) has also been passed fit. Only lock James Ryan, who sustained a wrist issue against the Scots, is missing from arguably Ireland’s strongest line-up. Lowe, meanwhile, is one of three New Zealand-born players in Ireland’s team, in addition to centre Bundee Aki and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.

[14 October 2023 18:10 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Talking points: About Schmidt

An intriguing sub-plot is the presence of former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt in the Kiwi camp. The 58-year-old led Ireland into the last two World Cups before joining his native country’s coaching team last summer after his six-year tenure was emphatically ended by the All Blacks in Tokyo in 2019. New Zealand coach Ian Foster outlined plans to tap into Schmidt’s extensive knowledge of the Irish. Yet veteran Ireland wing Keith Earls played down the merits of doing so, saying: “We genuinely don’t use any of the habits that Joe taught us.”

[14 October 2023 18:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Talking points: All Blacks out for revenge

Ireland had to wait 111 years for a first Test win over New Zealand. But, having done so in memorable fashion in Chicago seven years ago, the Irish now hold the upper hand in terms of recent meetings. Farrell masterminded a stunning 2-1 tour success over the All Blacks last summer and the stage is set for another unforgettable encounter. New Zealand are not used to losing on home soil and will be out for revenge. Kiwi full-back Beauden Barrett said: “There are a lot of us who are pretty keen to get one up on them and still we’re hurting from what happened last year.” Ireland’s quest will be aided by the backing of tens of thousands of travelling fans.

[14 October 2023 18:00 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Talking points: Banishing the quarter-final curse

Ireland have topped the world rankings for 15 months and are favourites for the mouth-watering Stade de France showdown. Yet the Irish have never won a World Cup knockout match. Seven times previously they have reached the last eight of the tournament and seven times they have been sent home. The last of those early exits came at the hands of the All Blacks four years ago. Ireland have improved markedly since then and have far greater mental resolve. Farrell’s in-form side will equal the record for consecutive Test wins by a tier one nation (18) by banishing the quarter-final curse. However, standing in their way is one of the toughest challenges in world rugby.

[14 October 2023 17:56 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Argentina v Wales LIVE

Argentina are on the verge of booking their place in the World Cup semi-finals! Heartbreak for Wales in Marseille. Follow the finale:

[14 October 2023 17:53 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Dan Sheehan keen to avoid being affected by hype of Ireland-New Zealand clash

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan plans to ignore the hype and treat Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand like any other Test match.

Andy Farrell’s men will make history as the first Irish team to progress to the last four of the tournament by downing the three-time champions in Paris.

Ireland’s previous World Cup failures are well documented but Sheehan is among the younger generation of players unburdened by the baggage.

The self-confident 25-year-old feels there is a stronger mentality among the class of 2023 and will not become distracted by the media fanfare surrounding a titanic Stade de France showdown.

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