Joe Schmidt speaks: “We gave them too many access points into the game,” says Ireland’s now former coach, as he agrees that today’s outcome was the result of a combination of New Zealand being particularly good and Ireland being particularly poor. “We gave them a bit of a leg up and you just can’t afford to do that,” he says.
Brian O’Driscoll speaks: “Ultimately it will be seen as a disappointment,” says the former Ireland international when asked how he thinks this campaign - one in which they lost to Japan and got hockeyed in yet another quarter-final - will be viewed by the Irish. That, ladies and gentlemen, is why he gets paid the big bucks.
🗣"Our bench came on and made an impact. Rory Best, you've been a legend of the game so thanks for what you've given to the game." @AllBlacks skipper Kieran Read reflects on his team's Quarter Final win 👏#RWC2019 #NZLvIRE #RWCTokyo pic.twitter.com/VskBRO1YPI
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 19, 2019
Rory Best speaks: Well, he doesn’t - after his final game of rugby Ireland’s captain looks like he’s going to cry cry as the crowd cheer him. Then he speaks. “The All Blacks were fantastic,” he says. “We felt we prepared well and we felt we had a game plan. They started well and put us on the back foot. They were really clinical and didn’t let us get on the front foot. This is a front foot, momentum game. I think for now you just have to give credit to the All Blacks.”
Just the seven tries for New Zealand: They were simply outstanding today, going over seven times, albeit in the face of fairly feeble resistance from Ireland.
Full time in Tokyo: New Zealand 46-14 Ireland
It’s all over: Having put in arguably their best performance since the last World Cup, New Zealand swat Ireland aside with a minimum of fuss. They were as outstanding as the Irish were inept and will now face England in the last four. For Ireland, it’s yet another dismal failure to win a knockout match at a Rugby World Cup. They didn’t show up today and were punished accordingly.
New Zealand try ...
79 min New Zealand 46-14 Ireland Beauden Barrett is announced as the Man of the Match. It’s a New Zealand scrum, five metres from the Ireland line. Another long pass kick out to the corner, from Beauden Barrett to his brother Jordie Barrett and he dives over in the corner in the face of shockingly bad Irish defending. Richie Mo’unga misses the conversion.
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78 min New Zealand 41-14 Ireland: Apologies, I meant they’re right back on their own line, after another dreadful kick from Joey Carberry, who has been even more wayward off the boot than Johnny Sexton, who he replaced.
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Penalty try for Ireland ...
77 min New Zealand 41-14 Ireland: With Ireland camped on the New Zealand line, CJ Stander’s route to touching the ball against the base of the upright by an offside Matt Todd. That’s a yellow card for the cheating Kiwi and Ireland are right back in this game!!!
75 min New Zealand 41-7 Ireland: Ireland make their way towards the New Zealand line, going close to scoring a second try as Jordan Lamour chases a kick to the corner.
TRY!!! George Bridge scores ...
73 min New Zealand 41-7 Ireland Ardie Savea turns over possession for New Zealand. A burst through the centre and Dane Coles offloads to Bridge, who goes over. This is a massacre.
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71 min New Zealand 34-7 Ireland: If anything, that consolation try has just riled up the All Blacks. They capitalise on more poor kicking from hand to make ground and a hot-knife-through-butter move looks guaranteed to end in a try until Anton Lienert-Brown misplaces a pass to TJ Perenara.
TRY! Ireland score ...
69 min New Zealand 34-7 Ireland From a five-metre scrum, CJ Stander takes the ball and makes a clever before passing to Henshaw, who darts over between the posts. The extra are added and it’s game on! New Zealand are on the ropes!
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68 min New Zealand 34-0 Ireland Robbie Henshaw fails to gather a little grubber kick in behind and a great try-scoring opportunity goes to waste for Ireland.
66 min New Zealand 34-0 Ireland Decent from Ireland, as Jacob Stockdale gallops down the right wing before being brought to ground. Irelandgo through the phases and are camped in front of the New Zealand posts, as the crowd roar them on, patronising them to within an inch of their lies.
65 min New Zealand 34-0 Ireland Another Irish penalty, another missed effort for touch.
63 min New Zealand 34-0 Ireland The conversion is missed and Ireland captain Rory Best goes off to rapturous applause from the Ireland fans, who have had little else to clap. That’s him done with rugby after a fine career, although he’ll be unhappy at having to sign off like this.
TRY! Matt Todd gets on the scoresheet ...
62 min New Zealand 34-0 Ireland From a lineout, New Zealand drive forward, smithereening the Irish pack. An inch-perfect cross-field kick from Mo’unga is gathered on the far touchline and a ruck forms. The ball’s picked out from the base of the ruck and fed to Matt Todd, who goes over. Sensational stuff from the All Blacks.
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60 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland A brilliant chip-and-chase from Beauden Barrett has New Zealand back on their own line, trying to clear with a relieving box-kick.
59 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland “OK we’re going nowhere here, lads,” says Owens, as New Zealand come up from the scrum early. After playing the advantage, he awards Ireland the penalty. Once again, they fail to make touch. That is diabolically inept from Ireland.
58 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland Scrum for Ireland just inside their own half for a New Zealand knock on. Not for the first time in this game, Conor Murray gets a lecture from Nigel Owens about the manner in which he is appealing for decisions to go his way.
56 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland Brody Retallick is penalised for going off his feet and Ireland clear their lines. Matt Todd and Rhys Ruddock come off their respective benches.
54 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland New Zealand rampage forward again, playing the ball out wide to George Bridge on the touchline, seven or eight yards from the Ireland line. They move it back inside and Ireland are defending their own line again.
53 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland: Sonny Bill Williams comes on for Jack Goodhue, whose lucky mullet has served him well today. He’s been excellent for New Zealand, a pivotal ever-present menace as they stretch Ireland hither and yon across the pitch.
52 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland: Ireland get into the New Zealand 22 for only the second time in the game and promptly give the ball away. They proceed to give away another penalty for a Tadhg Furlong tackle on a man without the ball.
50 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland: New Zealand make front row changes, with Ofa Tuungafasi and Angus Ta’avao coming on for Moody and Laualala. For Ireland, Dave Kilcoyne replaces Cian Healy.
TRY! Codie Taylor goes over ...
48 min New Zealand 29-0 Ireland: Kieran Read drives for the line and is brought down. He pops the ball up to Taylor, who grabs the pass and drops between the posts. The conversion sails between the posts. New Zealand are so, so good ...
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46 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Kieran Read drives as New Zealand inch towards the Ireland line. Scott Barrett is next to put the head down and burrow. “Keep your feet, please,” says Nigel Owens to Ireland’s forwards. We’re on Phase Seven and Ireland are taking a ferocious pummelling.
46 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Smith offloads to Goodhue after a good carry from Brodie Retallick. A knock on by CJ Stander give New Zealand the scrum and there’s a break in play as New Zealand prop Joe Moody receives medical attention. Scrum for New Zealand about eight metres from the Irish line.
44 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Ireland have a 22 drop out and New Zealand claim Johnny Sexton’s kick. They play the ball from one touchline to the other, with Jack Goodhue making ground. They are on complete control of this match.
42 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Scott Barrett is on for New Zealand and Ireland are already pinned back inside their own half. They have the scrum, about 10 metres from their own line. Conor Murray kicks for touch and New Zealand win the lineout.
Second half: New Zealand 22-0 Ireland
41 min: “Ireland need to create a little bit of quicker ruck balls ... they’re running into a brick wall at the moment,” says Brian O’Driscoll in the ITV studio. They missed 10 out of 66 tackles in that first half. New Zealand missed one out of 75. They kick off and Beauden Barrett catches the ball. He kicks for touch and Jacob Stockdale catches. He has a foot in touch and that’s another silly Irish error ...
Imagine being Ireland's players. Getting ready to come out for the second half. Knowing you're going to get your arse kicked by an 8-litre, 6-speed arse kicking machine. 😕 #COYBIG #arsekickarsekickarsekick
— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) October 19, 2019
Gerard Lyne is not happy: “Just nine properly competitive rugby playing nations, nine World Cups and Ireland have never got past the quarter finals,” he writes. “Also-rans, never nearly men. Overhyped. Over glorification of meaningless Soldier Field wins. Time to wind in the hype machine. It’s Demolition Day. Again.”
It’s only half-time, Gerard. Anything could happen ... although I have a feeling I know what’s about to unfold.
Some half-time reading:
Half-time: New Zealand 22-0 Ireland
The players go off at half-time with Ireland having had the collective backside handed to them in a first half in which they had only one meaningful trip past the New Zealand 22. The reigning champions have been outstanding and for all their pre-match talk, Ireland have been pretty poor.
40+2 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Ireland get a penalty, which is reversed because Peter O’Mahony is penalised for leading a tackle with his shoulder on a man who was on the ground.
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40+2 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Excellent defence from New Zealand, but Ireland have another penalty for a tackle off the ball by Kieran Read. Nigel Owens is also checking a bad tackle by Peter O’Mahony, who he suspects of leading with his shoulder on a player on the ground.
40+1 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Ireland win a penalty as Sam Whitlock goes off his feet. Johnny Sexton kicks for touch in the corner and Ireland win the lineout.
40 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Ireland win the lineout and are driven backwards as the half-time gong goes. Ireland are in possession a few metres from the New Zealand 22. This is actually as close as they’ve come to scoring a try.
40 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Conor Murray kicks for touch and wins his team the lineout after the ball goes out off Mo’unga.
37 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: New Zealand go about their hunt for try No4. Ireland scrum after some indiscretion in the ruck perpetrated by Kieran Read.
The try is given ...
33 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: Nigel Owens awards the try after a long consultation with Graham Hughes. Richie Mo’unga misses the conversion from out wide by the right touchline.
TRY! Beauden Barrett scores ...
32 min New Zealand 22-0 Ireland: A bruising tackle on Sexton from Reece prompts the Irishman to lose the ball. Barrett kicks the ball ahead, gathers and goes over. The TMO is checking to see if Barrett was offside when he kicked the ball.
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31 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: Ireland lineout just inside the New Zealand half. They’ve had just 38% in this game thus far.
29 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: In possession, Ireland struggle to get the ball out of their own 22. Murray kicks long to Beauden Barrett, who immediately plays it wide to Sevu Reece.
28 min: New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: New Zealand are in possession on the Ireland 22 going through seven ... eight ... nine... phases. Ardie Savia is penalised for knocking on. Ireland’s forwards are going to be exhausted, what with New Zealand toying with them ... constantly forcing them from one side of the pitch to the other as they play the ball out to wide areas. New Zealand have been outstanding thus far. Ireland have been anything but, but are not doing themselves any favours.
26 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: New Zealand turn the ball over and Beauden Barrett scurries forward. Cian Healy is penalised for stealing the ball from a ruck. “It was still in the zone,” says Nigel Owens, the referee.
24 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: Relentless New Zealand pressure as Ireland try to hang on. They have a moment of respite as they win a penalty and kick for touch around the New Zealand 22.
23 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: A penalty for New Zealand as Ringrose tackles Sevu Reece around the neck. This has the makings of a slaughter if Ireland can’t cut out the ill discipline and silly mistakes. They’re struggling to get out of their own half.
Try! Smith goes over again
18 min New Zealand 17-0 Ireland: Ireland lineout. It’s sloppy and Tadhg Furlong ends up knocking on. Scrum for New Zealand. The ball’s played out the line from Jack Goodhue to Sevue Reece who gallops to the corner. He’s tackled, a ruck forms and Aaron Smith goes over in the corner for his second try. A stupid mistake by Ireland at their own lineout is punished mercilessly. Richie Mo’unga scores the conversion.
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16 min New Zealand 10-0 Ireland: Just 16 minutes in and Ireland are in possession on the halfway line. Robbie Henshaw goes to ground and then James Ryan carries for five or six metres. Penalty advantage for Ireland as Codie Taylor is penalised for tackling Ryan without the ball. Johnny Sexton goes for distance elects to kick for touch in the corner but fails to make it. That’s not good.
TRY!!! Aaron Smith goes over ...
14 min New Zealand 10-0 Ireland: That’s been coming. After relentless New Zealand pressure through phase after phase five metres from the Ireland line, Aaron Smith spots a gap, scuttles through and grounds the ball just beside the posts. Mo’unga adds the extras.
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13 min New Zealand 3-0 Ireland: Kearney cleans up at the back for Ireland as Mo’unga plays a little grubber kick to the corner for George Bridge to chase. Ireland remain under the cosh, deep inside their own half.
11 min New Zealand 3-0 Ireland: New Zealand pay it out wide, with Beauden Barrett passing it to Sevu Reece. New Zealand are on the Ireland 22 and playing it over and back across the field, stretching the Ireland defence.
9 min New Zealand 3-0 Ireland: Garry Ringrose returns to action with his head bandaged and Jordan Lamour makes way. Ardie Savea is penalised for collapsing a maul and Johnny Sexton finds touch with the clearance. Ireland are under pressure here. Scrum for the All Blacks just inside the Ireland half.
7 min New Zealand 3-0 Ireland: Rob Kearney drops the ball deep in New Zealand territory andthe loose ball is booted forward by Goodhue, who gives chase. In the ensuing ruck, Conor Murray’s attempted clearance is blocked.
Penalty! New Zealand go ahead ...
6 min New Zealand 3-0 Ireland: Richie Mo’unga makes no mistake with his first kick at goal and New Zealand have the lead.
5 min New Zealand 0-0 Ireland: Another break in play for treatment for a head injury sustained by Garry Ringrose. He’s off to the blood bin and Jordan Lamour replaces him. New Zealand have a chance to open the scoring after Jacob Stockdale is penalised for deliberate, one-handed knock on as he tried to intercept.
4 min New Zealand 0-0 Ireland: After a brief break in play for treatment to a Sam Whitelock knee injury, New Zealand win a scrum inside their own half. The ball is kicked high by Richie Mo’unga and Garry Ringrose is unable to claim it. New Zealand have the ball halfway inside the Irish half.
2 min New Zealand 0-0 Ireland: Rob Kearney fields a dinked kick from Jack Goodhue and Ireland have a lineout, which is claimed by Peter O’Mahony. Ireland are on the front foot, but New Zealand turn it over in the maul after good work from Kieran Read.
New Zealand v Ireland is go ...
1 min: The crowd count down and New Zealand kick off, with Richie Mo’unga doing the honours. Scrum to Ireland after a New Zealand knock on, halfway inside the Irish half.
And the haka ... Ireland’s players stand inside their own half, lined out with their arms around each others shoulders, as New Zealand’s players form an arrowhead and perform their customary pre-match ritual. In the stands, Ireland’s supporters – who appear to vastly outnumber their New Zealand counterparts – attempt to drown it out with a rendition of The Fields Of Athenry.
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A minute’s silence: There’s a pause for reflection in memory of those who lost their lives as a result of last weekend’s Typhon Hagibis. Now, the anthems ...
Not long now: The teams are coming out of their dressing rooms and making their way to the tunnel. With New Zealand led by Kieran Read and Ireland by Rory Best, they’re about to walk out into a cauldron. Off they go ...
Joe Schmidt speaks: Talking to ITV, the Irish coach says it would be “a dream come true” to beat New Zealand. He pays tribute to his players, who he says have “worked so hard”. He goes on to say that he thinks Ireland will have to be calm and play better than they did in victory over New Zealand last November. “When you’re a team who can’t see the wood for the trees, New Zealand love that.”
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Ahead of their quarter-final match at Rugby World Cup 2019, Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt chat on pitch. #RWC2019 #NZLvIRE pic.twitter.com/Iw4L2m5YsL
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 19, 2019
Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt: There can be only winner today and following the post-match niceties and press conferences, the coach of either New Zealand or Ireland will be out of a job. Both Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt have promised to step down once their team’s interest in this Rugby World Cup has ended. Ireland captain Rory Best has also stated his intention to retire at the end of this tournament, so this could be his last game of rugby.
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England through to the semi-finals: England’s quarter-final win over Australia could scarcely have been more emphatic and they will play the winners of this game in the last four. Robert Kitson was at Oita Stadium to see them advance.
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Ireland team news: Ireland are almost at full strength, although with Bundee Aki suspended, Joe Schmidt has picked Garry Ringrose as outside centre.
New Zealand team news: “The forecast here is for rain on Saturday, but Hansen has picked a team to attack Ireland out wide,” writes Paul Rees from Tokyo. “The wings George Bridge and Sevu Reece have 12 caps between them, the centre Jack Goodhue 11 and Richie Mo’unga, who continues at fly‑half with Beauden Barrett the second playmaker at full-back, 14. The experienced Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty did not even make the bench, which is where Sonny Bill Williams will sit.”
Today’s match officials
- Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
- Assistant: Pascal Gauzere (France)
- Assistant: Angus Gardner (Australia)
- TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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New Zealand v Ireland line-ups
New Zealand: B Barrett; Reece, Goodhue, Lienert-Brown, Bridge; Mo’unga, Smith; Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Retallick, Whitelock; Savea, Cane, Reid.
Replacements: Coles, Tuungafasi, Ta’avao, S Barrett, Todd, Perenara, Williams, J Barrett.
Ireland: Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan, O’Mahony; Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, McGrath, Carbery, Larmour.
RWC quarter-final: New Zealand v Ireland
Tokyo Stadium is the venue for a quarter-final between the tournament favourites and a team that has beaten them twice in Autumn internationals over the past three years. In beating New Zealand in Soldier’s Field, Chicago in 2016, Ireland broke a hoodoo that had lasted 111 years, while their victory against the same opposition in Dublin last November prompted quite a few Irishmen to lose the run of themselves altogether and decide their team was going going to win the World Cup.
For the Irish (and this minute-by-minute commentator ought to declare he is typing this report with knobbly stick-waving pigs under each arm), today is something of a reckoning. Somewhat remarkably, they have never won a Rugby World Cup knockout game and today in Tokyo is as good a time as any for them to – pardon my French but I feel very strongly about this – shit or get off the pot. Kick-off is at 11.15am (BST), but other time zones are available and we’d be delighted to have your company wherever you might be.
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