Five things we learnt from All Blacks-Ireland
The All Blacks have stormed into World Cup favortism after their tense 28-24 win over Ireland at the Stade de France.
It was one of the games of the tournament and the year as both teams delivered a performance worthy of a final.
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Ultimately, the experience of the Kiwis shone through as they return to the semi-finals whilst the Irish are left wondering what could've been after yet another quarter-final exit.
So what did we learn?
1 WORLD CLASS
That may have been the finest All Blacks performance of the 2020s.
The way they defended at the end was legendary, with world-class players such as Jordie Barrett and Sam Whitelock coming up with game-winning defensive stops at the end to defy the two yellow cards to Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor.
Ireland won every key attacking stat but couldn’t find a way through when it counted.
On attack, the Kiwis created their points seemingly from nothing and were ruthless whenever they got a half chance.
It’ll go down as the defining win of Ian Foster’s tenure as All Blacks coach so far, a man who has faced plenty of detractors as he prepares to step away from the role.
Two more performances like that and his time as All Blacks coach will end with the former Chiefs boss hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup.
2 GROUNDHOG DAY
On the flip side, Ireland must be wondering what they have to do to make a semi-final.
Make no mistake, the Irish have nothing to be ashamed about in defeat. They were stoic in defence and constantly threatened the All Blacks line, it’s just the Kiwis were on another level in the key moments.
It leaves Ireland once again scratching its head wondering how their World Cup campaign will again end at the quarter-final stage.
This Irish team was seen as their best chance yet at the title and one win away from tieing the world record. In the end, they’ll go down in the history books like every other team before them.
3. BACK ROW BRILLIANCE
Ardie Savea might be the best big-game player in World Rugby.
He skittled the Irish defenders in attack whilst winning some key turnovers at the breakdown.
The inspirational number eight was everywhere in the key moments and grew as the game got tighter and tigher.
He was joined by Sam Cane, who must've had Peter O’Mahoney’s ’s*** Richie McCaw’ sledge from last year still on his mind because he came out a man possessed in the first half.
The All Blacks captain has been a lightning rod for criticism since his appointment but this was one of his finest games in the black jersey, if not his best.
He set the physicality from the opening hit and was constantly there to force back the Irish attackers, finishing with a game-high 21 tackles. Cane also came up with a couple of crucial turnovers as he rose to the big-game atmosphere.
4. KICKING IT
The All Blacks delivered a masterclass in kicking during the first half.
Beauden Barrett pieced apart the Irish defence with a great chip and chase to set up Fainga’anuku’s opening try.
A kick like that is perfect for keeping the defence on their toes and just creating the little half-second of doubt if they want to rush up.
Will Jordan then produced a perfect 50-22 that was more like a 50-10 to put the Kiwis back on the attack, eventually finished off two minutes later by Ardie Savea in the corner.
5. LAYING DOWN THE CHALLENGE
Ireland delivered one of the more spine-tingling responses to the Haka in recent memory.
You could see the passion in each Irish player as they faced the Haka in a figure of eight, honouring Irish great Anthony Foley.
However, it was the power of their incredible fan base that took it to another level, drowning out Aaron Smith and the All Blacks with the Fields of Athenry.
Responses to Hakas always get a mixed response but at the end of the day, it’s a challenge. It’s up to the opposition how they choose to accept it, although more often than not a response garners a result like this.
