New Zealand have secured a semi-final place by destroying a frustrating and frustrated Ireland side by 46 points to 14 as the second quarter-final took place in Tokyo.
England and New Zealand will now go head to head in the race to the final and based on today’s performance, Eddie Jones is going to need to pull something special out of his hat.
Ahead of today’s game the All Blacks were strong favourites but you couldn’t stop thinking about the 2018 loss to Ireland in Dublin and the concerns that this All Blacks side were vulnerable.
However any concerns were blown out of the water in a first half that saw the All Blacks race away to a 22-0 point lead and leave their opponents wondering what on earth had just happened.
The Kiwis have shown in previous games how they are comfortable absorbing pressure and then striking with the odd clinical play to get the scores they need.
Today they were like a lion that was all over its prey from minute one and was never going to let up. They played with pace and accuracy in attack and with brutal power and organisation in defence.
Aaron Smith didn’t end up getting the man of the match award but he was certainly man of the first half. He scored two tries and was the injection of pure adrenaline that set the tone for the pace the All Blacks played at.
While the All Blacks should absolutely be respected for how they played, the Irish also made things very hard for themselves.
For a side that prides itself on relentless control in defence, with ball in hand and kicking they will be bitterly disappointed.
They conceded 17 turnovers, missed over 20 per cent of their tackles and only made two clean breaks.
Three times throughout the game they had penalty kicks that should have gone into touch and been the launching pad for attack and scoring opportunities but instead ended up in the arms of the All Blacks who could then clear or counter.
This is simply not good enough at this point in the tournament or against this quality of opposition.
If you check out the stats you might assume this was a tight game – possession was 50:50, territory was almost the same and the Kiwis gave away twice as many penalties as the Irish.
However the scoreboard shows the reality and the seven tries that the All Blacks scored and the way the Kiwi defence suffocated the Irish was impressive.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
It’s been asked before – did Ireland peak a year or so too soon? Well the answer seems to be yes.
They had a poor Six Nations and while they did rise to number one in the world, there was something flat about their performances and you felt that they were going to struggle against the top teams when the pressure was on.
The Irish are losing two of their key men in captain Rory Best and coach Joe Schmidt.
This won’t have been the way they imagined their bowing out taking place but no one should forget the incredible contribution these two have made to Irish rugby over the past few years.
They leave it in a better place but still with some questions to be answered.
For the All Blacks this was an important performance. They are always under the spotlight and people always love an upset.
The intensity from the All Blacks was incredible and you have to wonder how anyone could cope with what we saw today.
But England are a very different team to Ireland and we’ll see next week whether Jones has a surprise in store for Hansen.
All Blacks 46
Ireland 14
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Once In A Lifetime Talking Heads
Jacko
Guest
Yeah as i say I dont care if they do the chicken dance during the haka but its like putting a cast on your foot believing that it will hurt the opposition when reality is it will only make you run slow...to keep doing it after it has failed just seems dumb
ShaghaiDoc
Roar Rookie
Truth at last. Choker Murray and his mate Serial Choker Sexton showed their true colours. T's okay at home with your own referees but on neutral ground, and a full-sized pitch, even bringing your own referee is not enough. If the Blackness overcomes the English Orcs next weekend and we have the only final that was probable after the first round. A 6N-free Saturday.
Mark
Guest
That is one of the dumbest statements of all time Each game is different in so many variables it is impossible to prove
Mark
Guest
Obviously no longer possible But there was a ad in NZ many years back that showed Japan winning the 2019 RWC - cant remember what it was for
1eye
Roar Rookie
NZ were very good ......... my question is were the Irish that bad ,or just not allowed or given the opportunity to play their game?
jason
Roar Rookie
the funniest comment I heard from an Irish fan after the game... Is Irish rugby a marketing scam? in light of recent events it makes you wonder
Jacko
Guest
Wow ....We finally agree on something....just remember that your picks are an opinion....A bit like mine....
Jacko
Guest
Once in a life time no doubt...
jacko
Guest
Justin try reading...I dont give a toss what they do i just question why????? Do it once and if it works keep doing it...do it all the time after it proves to be a total waste of time is just dumb....All I saw was the Japanese crowd being stopped from enjoying the pre match haka....But please "tell me what they get from it...
moaman
Roar Guru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr1rzSSMsac This is what they were singing!
jacko
Guest
Barnes was good too
Taniwha
Roar Rookie
Muzzo, Haka expert Wetini Mitai-Ngatai disagreed, describing the Irish singing as "fantastic". "I thought it was lovely, it was beautiful," he told TVNZ1's Breakfast today. "I thought it was nice to bring a bit of Ireland." Mr Mitai-Ngatai says it's good to come together to witness different cultures and that the Irish singing most likely inspired the All Blacks. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/disrespectful-ireland-fans-sing-over-haka-yeah-nah-says-expert Against Wales in 2006 the ABs performed the Haka in the dressing room because they refused to bow to WRU demands that the haka precede the Welsh national anthem, a fired up All Black side won 45-10. Steve Hansen made the following statement. "At the end of the day this is a team that makes its own decisions, it's not going to bullied around by anybody, especially over something as dear to them as the haka," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6rzmpQRZg4
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
And again you are to lazy to do your own research, & ignorant enough to ridicule, OUR culture. You come across as some journalist, that is too stupid to listen to, as to what other are experienced in. In fact have you ever played Rugby, at a senior level at least, have you ever, coached, managed, & put as much back into the game as i have, instead of sitting back & degrading others opinions, or what they have done, seen, or what ever? Like I've given you proof of where to check out, but evidently your to lazy, to do even that. You call yourself 'Neutral View', try adjusting that to 'Opinionated View'. as it's fitting,
taylorman
Roar Guru
I’ll say, neither SA nor Wales looked comfortable. Blame Ireland for our having to meet early, should be a NZ England final based on those quarters.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Mako hasn’t started a game since May. He needed the run out and will be better next week. Not sure why you think he had a particularly poor game, though.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
He was particularly generous for Smith’s try when Read went piling into the side of the ruck and created the gap. :unhappy:
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yep. ABs justifiably clear favourites, but I’ll be very disappointed if England don’t make it a great deal more uncomfortable than Ireland did.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
No, not undercooked. Things have fallen for England quite well, so they can’t have any excuses now. Rather be in the other side of the draw though. :stoked:
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
The other thing is to look who is around a try scorer for support (should it be needed). Bridge is so often in the frame. He seems to have an instinct for where to be - very Ben Smith and Goldie like.