Three-time champions New Zealand inflicted extra World Cup heartbreak on Ireland on Saturday, beating them 28-24 to deliver a bitterly disappointing finish to Irish captain Johnny Sexton’s stellar profession.
The All Blacks avenged a historic house sequence defeat by the hands of Ireland final 12 months, taking their possibilities after they had them in scientific style on the Stade de France.
The defeat ended Ireland’s run of 17 successive Test victories and denied Andy Farrell’s group the prospect of a primary ever semi-final.
The All Blacks turned on the stress early on, pounding away on the Irish line and it advised as referee Wayne Barnes awarded them a penalty — Richie Mo’unga slotted it over for 3-0.
The All Blacks moved right into a 6-0 lead close to the quarter-hour mark as Jordie Barrett landed an excellent long-range penalty from simply contained in the Irish half.
MATCH CENTRE NEW ZEALAND VS IRELAND
Ireland did pierce the New Zealand defence on a few events however their self-discipline allow them to down and it was their opponents who have been turning their possibilities into factors.
They moved right into a 13-0 lead after an excellent transfer resulted in Leicester Fainga’anuku — who was solely within the lineup as a consequence of Mark Telea’s breaking of group protocol — touching down.
There was a touch of a ahead go from Rieko Ioane however the attempt stood and had the New Zealand teaching group out of their seats punching the air in ecstasy.
Mo’unga transformed from the left touchline.
The Irish wanted one thing and sensibly Sexton, when supplied the prospect, took the factors, changing a penalty for 13-3 within the twenty third minute.
Sexton and Barnes had an alternate when Mo’unga’s excessive sort out on Bundee Aki was judged OK — the latter was to hit again in the easiest way potential.
The Irish have been proper again within the sport because the clock ticked in the direction of the half-hour mark. James Lowe’s lengthy go discovered Aki who took it excessive however nonetheless managed to interrupt by a number of tackles and contact down and Sexton transformed for 13-10.
– Irish sloppiness punished –
However, again got here the All Blacks and the excellent Ardie Savea went in within the nook to mark his thirtieth birthday in type. Though Mo’unga’s conversion went vast, the All Blacks have been 18-10 up.
With maybe simply 45 minutes left of his rugby profession remaining, Sexton learn the riot act to his teammates, berating them for the shortage of canopy.
They reacted positively and acquired a lift when Barnes yellow-carded Aaron Smith for a deliberate knock-on as Ireland have been urgent and Sexton went for contact with the penalty.
It paid off as having kicked to the touch shortly afterwards with one other penalty Jamison Gibson-Park noticed a spot and seized the chance brilliantly to go over and contact down.
Sexton added the extras to deliver Ireland inside a degree at 18-17 as they into the half-time break.
The Irish had the higher of the opening exchanges within the second half however twice have been penalised by Barnes — Sexton having phrases with the English referee on the latter event.
As within the first half, the All Blacks proved scientific in punishing them for these errors — Will Jordan completed off a superb break by Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett landed the conversion for 25-17 with 25 minutes remaining.
Things simply weren’t going Ireland’s means as Sexton opted to go for aim however despatched his penalty vast as groans rang around the stadium with the clock ticking in the direction of the hour mark.
Farrell determined it was time to provide veteran Conor Murray a go and companion Sexton as he has finished for almost all of their excellent careers. On he got here to interchange the tiring Gibson-Park with 19 minutes to go.
Sexton, having gone for contact with one other penalty, clapped his fingers and waved his arms within the air to gee up the Irish supporters.
It labored because the decibel ranges went into one other stratosphere and much more so when Barnes awarded the Irish a penalty attempt to sin-binned Codie Taylor to go away it 25-24 with 16 minutes to go.
But Jordie Barrett stretched the result in 28-24 with 11 minutes remaining with one other long-range penalty.
The Irish pounded away within the dying minutes, section after section of assault, however the All Blacks stood agency and 38-year-old Sexton was left to ponder what might need been because the whistle blew on his extraordinary profession.
WHAT THEY SAID
“It was one of those Test matches, it was a battle, I’m really proud of my boys. Ireland have set the standard and I want to send love to them.” — Player of the match Ardie Savea
“What an unbelievable game of rugby union. I am lost for words. I knew the All Blacks had a game in them, but it was the way they delivered and put pressure on Ireland.” — Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick
“Johnny Sexton is going to live it all over for a long while, he will play it over and think what he could have done. Ireland gave everything they had, they were just repelled. There is nothing between the sides.” — Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll
“I am heartbroken. Ireland’s eighth quarter-final and they didn’t play to the level that they would have wanted. Johnny Sexton… is a broken man. There is a broken country here, so many Ireland fans and unfortunately it is not to be.” — Former Ireland wing Tommy Bowe
Source: www.foxsports.com.au