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22

2019 Magnificent All Blacks Power Past

23rd, Ireland Into Semi-Finals

October

ith a display to send
shudders through the
| Wrest of the Rugby
EXAMINER World Cup pretenders, champi-

ons New Zealand once again
underlined their status as the

IRISH team to beat, making light work
of what was supposed to be the
toughest of challenges against
Ireland and roaring into the
semi-finals witha46-14 triumph.
Seeking a third straight
global title, the All Blacks, fero-
cious in defense and dazzling in
attack, registered seven tries
with the most complete of per-
formances to put away a side
that had beaten them on two
of the three previous occasions
they had met.
After England had earlier
put Australia to the sword in
Oita, the All Blacks made their
own emphatic statement here, their minds, even though he away by two defeats. We’ve had found Reece. zling offload from replacement
flexing their muscles as they echoed the delight of their just met a team that are No.1 It was a signal for Best to hooker Dane Coles putting in
scored three times in the first coach, Eddie Jones, that this in the world for a reason.” depart the scene after his dis- Bridge. Still Ireland kept bat-
half, with a sniping double was a game to savor. New Zealand started like a tinguished career but he could tling and referee Nigel Owens
from their brilliant scrum-half Instead, the victorious team famished by their two- barely bring himself to awarded them a penalty try.
Aaron Smith, above, watched coach was more interested in week break and, as they hurled acknowledge the thunderous It was fitting that the final
by his young son Luka, and a paying tribute to the Irish cap- two or three tacklers into applause from the big Irish word should go to the rampag-
breakaway from Player of the tain, Rory Best, who was mak- every phase, Ireland’s attacks contingent. ing All Blacks, who finished the
Match Beauden Barrett. ing his final appearance, and to were invariably suffocated at He will have at least been rout with Jordie Barrett blitz-
After the break, hooker Joe Schmidt, who was taking source. After a series of sus- proud of how his men kept bat- ing over in the corner. It
Codie Taylor, replacement charge of his last match as tained New Zealand attacks, a tling and after Henshaw had marked the end of an emotion-
flanker Matt Todd, winger coach. For both men, such gaping hole appeared in the failed to touch down with the al time for the Barrett boys,
George Bridge and replace- great servants of Irish rugby, it Irish ranks allowing Smith to line at his mercy, the center who provided their own fitting
ment wing Jordie Barrett all all ended in horrible anti-cli- flit through. went over moments later with tribute to their grandfather
plowed over too to pile on the max as New Zealand’s all- Suddenly, the All Blacks a sniping attack. The All Blacks who had died earlier in the
misery as the All Blacks handed round relentless excellence were in full attacking cry. were not finished, another daz- week. C
Ireland, who responded forced the team into numerous Bridge was freed to plow down
through Robbie Henshaw and handling errors. the left wing only to be
a penalty try, the biggest defeat “I’m unbelievably upset brought down just before the
in their World Cup history. with the thought that I’ll never line. Smith’s opportunism
Billed as the team with the pull on a green jersey again, allowed him to pick up the
best attack against the outfit except to support,” said Best. scraps and burrow over again.
with the meanest defense, it “We’re incredibly disappoint- Johnny Sexton, absolutely
was the All Blacks who offered ed, we had a lot of big charac- Ireland’s key, was having a
up the most ferocious defend- ters in that team. Big men were tough time, his penalty kick to
ing, ripping into Ireland’s in tears in that dressing room the corner being acrobatically
green shirts with real venom, and that’s what happens when kept in play by the brilliant
missing only one tackle out of you put your heart and soul Richie Mo’unga and then hit
75 in the first half. into everything.” hard in the tackle by Sevu
As for their attacking, it Schmidt, who has trans- Reece, who booted the spilled
appeared still to be in a differ- formed the fortunes of Irish ball on so that Beauden Barrett
ent league to everyone else’s in rugby, was a little demoralized could race through, hack on
the tournament as backs and that it should end like this. and pile over for a third try.
forwards alike handled with “You tend to carry your scars With just over half an hour
remarkable facility and fluidity more than your sucesses. I’m a gone, the game seemed over.
to set up a semi-final against little bit broken by it. The All Blacks went in at half-
England. Heartbroken wouldn’t be too time 22-0 ahead.
It was, reckoned New far away from the way I feel Any hopes of a second-half
Zealand coach Steve Hansen, and the players feel,” the New fightback were quickly extin-
“a special Test match, one that Zealander admitted. guished when captain Kieran
the All Blacks, New Zealanders “But when I get a little dis- Read powered into the line and
and the players can be proud tance to reflect, I’ve had some offloaded for Taylor to score.
of”. For the moment, he said, incredibly good days and I Then Todd went over after
England were not even on don’t think they get washed another superlative cross-kick