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New Zealand has put in a superb defensive efficiency to prevail 28-24 over Eire in a titanic World Cup quarter-final, establishing a gathering with Argentina for a spot within the ultimate and destroying Irish desires of a primary world title.
Key factors:
- New Zealand held on, defending their line whereas a person down throughout a tense ultimate interval of the sport
- The defeat was Eire’s eighth in a World Cup quarterfinal
- New Zealand will now play Argentina, who got here from behind to beat Wales of their quarterfinal
The All Blacks performed for 20 minutes with 14 males in opposition to the Six Nations champions and needed to dig deep to defend their strive line by means of 40 phases within the dying seconds because the top-ranked Irish looked for a successful strive.
It was an eighth quarter-final loss for the Irish, ended their successful streak at 17 matches and despatched fly-half Johnny Sexton into retirement with out the glittering prize with which he had hoped to crown his profession.
Whereas fairly completely different from Eire’s epic win over South Africa within the pool section, it was equally engrossing with each groups hitting arduous in defence and wanting to make use of the ball in hand after they acquired it.
Eire’s variations in assault precipitated New Zealand issues all night time however the All Blacks had been ruthless after they acquired a sniff of the road to tug away on the scoreboard each time the Six Nations champions acquired shut.
Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan scored the tries that despatched the three-times champions into the semi-finals for the ninth time and avenged their dwelling sequence loss to the Irish final 12 months.
The Irish followers sang all through New Zealand’s haka and the All Blacks made a nervous begin, flooring two passes and fluffing two clearance kicks.
They quickly discovered their rhythm, nevertheless, and got here away with the primary factors from a Richie Mo’unga penalty after going by means of 30 phases contained in the Irish 22.
Jordie Barrett added one other penalty from 49 metres after a turnover and the All Blacks moved out to a 13-0 lead within the nineteenth minute when winger Fainga’anuku went over within the nook after Beauden Barrett had gathered his personal up-and-under.
Eire minimize the deficit with a Sexton penalty earlier than lastly breaching the New Zealand line within the twenty seventh minute when centre Bundee Aki’s mix of footwork and energy took him by means of three tacklers.
One other chip over the Irish defence acquired the All Blacks near the road once more six minutes later, although, and quantity eight Savea dived over by the flag to take the lead out to 18-10.
New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on nearly instantly, nevertheless, and his reverse quantity Jamison Gibson-Park darted over for a transformed attempt to make it a one-point sport on the break.
The All Blacks saved their line intact till Smith returned and Mo’unga scythed by means of the Irish midfield within the 53rd minute, racing clear earlier than sending winger Jordan in for his twenty eighth strive in his twenty ninth Take a look at.
Sexton revved up the 78,845 crowd after kicking a penalty to the nook within the sixty fourth minute and referee Wayne Barnes awarded a penalty strive when the Irish maul collapsed, sending hooker Codie Taylor to the sin bin in additional punishment for the All Blacks.
Eire tried one other catch-and-drive however got here away with nothing and Jordie Barrett added one other penalty within the 69th minute to increase the result in 4 factors and arrange an exhilarating however scoreless final 10 minutes.
Within the earlier sport, Michael Cheika’s Argentina got here from 10 factors all the way down to beat Wales 29-17 and arrange a date with the All Blacks.
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Reuters
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