Last year’s dramatic Quarter-Final between New Zealand and Ireland at Stade de France is one of the best knockout matches in men’s Rugby World Cup history. Ireland were favoured to send the All Blacks packing, but the New Zealanders showed their class when it mattered most.
Richie Mo’unga set up Will Jordan for a stunning long-range effort during the second half, Jordie Barrett pulled off a stunning try-saving tackle which to this day is still almost beyond belief, and Sam Whitelock’s experience was the difference as the lock secured a penalty to win the Test.
While Ireland’s pool stage win over South Africa left thousands of fans daring to dream, the team’s Quarter-Final curse struck once again, leaving players, coaches and supporters alike hurting – and that’s not something they’d move on from overnight.
Ireland beat the Springboks in South Africa in July, New Zealand fell to three losses in The Rugby Championship, and there was the narrative of Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane’s feud that made headlines across the rugby world. That set the stage for a shot at revenge in November.
For the first time since the Rugby World Cup, Ireland had an opportunity to face the All Blacks during the Autumn Nations Series. The Irish had a 19-game winning streak at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and were tipped by many to extend that even further.
Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor were ruled out of the Test, with coach Scott Robertson turning to Damian McKenzie who was believed to have fallen down the depth chart at first five-eighth – but this change at No. 10, while forced, proved to be a masterstroke from Razor.
Ireland opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty goal but it was practically all the All Blacks from there as McKenzie slotted a hat-trick of penalty goals. But disaster struck just before the half as Jordie Barrett was sent to the sin bin under review.
Barrett’s high shot on Garry Ringrose saw the All Blacks drop down to 14 men for 10 minutes, and Ireland made the most of it with Jack Crowley knocking over a 39th-minute penalty goal and Josh van der Flier reaching out for a try two minutes into the second term.
Almost suddenly, the Irish led 13-9.
But McKenzie’s magic would mesmerise the Dublin crowd as the playmaker knocked over another three penalty goals before the All Blacks’ only try of the contest to Will Jordan. Jordan had scored a try in that Quarter-Final last year, and once again broke Irish hearts.
Mark Tele’a came within five metres of scoring along the right edge before McKenzie spread the ball wide to Wallace Sititi. Sititi found Asafo Aumua who in turn found Jordan, unmarked on the left edge, who crossed for a decisive five-pointer with a smile on his face.
With the All Blacks ahead 23-13 in the 68th minute, it’s fair and obvious to say that time wasn’t on Ireland’s side. If they wanted to mount a comeback they’d have to get right onto it, and it seemed a James Lowe 50/22 had sparked a bit of a revival.
Ireland had the ball inside the All Blacks’ 22 but a moment of brilliance at the breakdown by backrower Ardie Savea saw the New Zealanders win a penalty. In the end, no other points were scored, with the All Blacks triumphing over their rivals just as they had at the World Cup.
