New Zealand have secured a semi-final with England after a dominant 46-14 win over Ireland in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Japan this afternoon.
A brace of tries from scrum-half Aaron Smith along with further five-pointers from Beauden Barrett, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, George Bridge and Jordie Barrett saw the All Blacks ease to victory over a dismal Irish side who just never got going.
The ball switched hands early on but it was the All Blacks who struck first as Richie Mo’unga slotted over a penalty from the right-hand side of the posts to make it 3-0 five minutes in.
Ireland responded well but their revival was short-lived as New Zealand came powering back to make their way into the Irish 22. From there they went through the phases close to the try-line before scrum-half Smith took a quick pick and go at the back of a ruck to touch down near the posts. Mo’unga added the easy extras to make it 10-0 after 14 minutes.
With a quarter of the match gone New Zealand perfected a set-piece move from a scrum, spreading the ball out to the left-wing to Bridge who almost went in for a try but from the resulting ruck, Smith picked and dived over the line in the left-corner for his second-try. Mo’unga sent over the kick from the touchline to push the reigning champions further ahead.
The men in green could not find a way into the game and just past the half hour mark they were even further behind as the ball was spilled from a tackle on Johnny Sexton. Mo’unga kicked ahead, before Beauden Barrett continued the move by kicking the ball along the ground again.
Barrett raced forward to latch onto the ball in the right-corner to put the ball down for his side’s third try of the game. Mo’unga couldn’t provide the extra two this time around but Ireland looked down and out at 22-0.
Ireland battled hard to try and register a score before the half-time whistle but their efforts failed as the All Blacks went in to the dressing rooms 22-0 up.
Things only got worse for Ireland after the break as New Zealand hammered away at the opposition defence going through the motions over the opening stages of the half and rewarded eight minutes in. They went through phase after phase before captain Kieran Read broke through a gap before popping the ball up as he got tackled to Taylor, who went in under the posts. Mo’unga ensured the easy conversion went over to make it 29-0.
As the clock ticked past the hour mark New Zealand made their dominance count again as a cross-field kick over to Sevu Reece who darted through the Irish 22, being held up just before the try-line, but from the ruck they popped the ball to substitute Matt Todd to barge over. Mo’unga missed the conversion this time around but Ireland looked out on their feet.
With just over ten minutes remaining Ireland managed to get some points on the board as CJ Stander picked from the back of a five-metre scrum, passing to Robbie Henshaw, who dived under the posts to score the try. Joey Carbery converted to make it 34-7.
That score kicked the All Blacks into action once more as they turned over a ruck in the middle of the pitch, breaking forward through Ardie Savea, who passed to sub Dane Coles, who sent a lovely offload to Bridge to charge over for another try. Mo’unga knocked over another two points.
In what was a hectic final 10 minutes Ireland were awarded a penalty try three minutes from time as Todd prevented a certain try and received a yellow-card for his actions.
The scoring wasn’t over there as New Zealand went up the other end of the pitch, winning a scrum before sending the ball to man of the match Beauden Barrett, who in turn launched a long-pass out to his brother Jordie, who dived over in the right-corner. The extras were missed with the last kick of the game as it finished 46-14 to the All Blacks.
For Ireland it is the end of another disappointing World Cup campaign in what also closes the book on Joe Schmidt’s Ireland tenure as well captain Rory Best’s playing career. While for the All Blacks they will prepare for a semi-final with England next Saturday as they continue their bid to win a third successive Webb Ellis Cup.
Player Ratings
New Zealand Starting XV:
Beauden Barrett (9), Sevu Reece (8), Jack Goodhue (7), Anton Lienert-Brown (7), George Bridge (7), Richie Mo’unga (8), Aaron Smith (8), Kieran Read (7), Sam Cane (7), Ardie Savea (8), Sam Whitelock (7), Brodie Retallick (8), Nepo Laulala (7), Codie Taylor (8), Joe Moody (8)
Replacements (8)
Ireland Starting XV:
Rob Kearney (4), Keith Earls (4), Gary Ringrose (6), Robbie Henshaw (6), Jacob Stockdale (5), Johnny Sexton (4), Conor Murray (5), CJ Stander (6), Josh van der Flier (6), Peter O’Mahony (5), James Ryan (6), Iain Henderson (6), Tadhg Furlong (6), Rory Best (5), Cian Healy (5)
Replacements (6)
