The past and the present are in a permanent state of war with each other, generally over which is best — and never more so than in football.

On April 15, 1989, in homes and in pubs all across Ireland, people sat down to watch Liverpool play Nottingham Forest in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

There was certainly no WH Auden moment in New Zealand when it was announced that Ian Foster would be the new All Blacks head coach.

Steve Hansen has said a "perfect storm" led to New Zealand's Rugby World Cup collapse against England.

New Zealand Rugby is recruiting for Steve Hansen's replacement and has approached 26 coaches, all New Zealanders, about applying for the role.

The reaction in New Zealand to the All Blacks’ exit from the Rugby World Cup at the hands of England is best summed up by the Herald on Sunday’s fully black front page.

The second hardest thing for an All Blacks side is to accept they have been dumped out of a World Cup.

Steve Hansen has revealed that the New Zealand and England coaching teams reflected on a remarkable World Cup semi-final over a few beers.

England’s build-up to their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand took a theatrical turn yesterday after Eddie Jones claimed that their training session was spied upon.

Your round-up of all the #RWC2019 news and more

Ireland’s standing as a rugby nation has taken a tumble after the ignominious quarter-final exit at the hands of the All Blacks, with the New Zealand press declaring Joe Schmidt’s side “abysmal” and “embarrassing”.

Steve Hansen insists quality and not quantity is the vital factor when it comes to experience after seeing New Zealand’s young guns blast Ireland out of the World Cup.

Joe Schmidt wasn’t having any of Steve Hansen’s mind games after Ireland saw off the All Blacks last November.

Joe Schmidt wasn't having any of Steve Hansen's mind games after Ireland saw off the All Blacks last November.

They may be trying to end each other’s World Cups tomorrow but both Steve Hansen and Joe Schmidt have revealed the camaraderie that exists between the New Zealand and Ireland coaching staffs ahead of their quarter-final at Tokyo Stadium.

Ireland’s tenacity versus New Zealand’s ruthlessness.

There can't be many phrases as condescending in sport as 'Tier 2'.

The history of sporting tournaments is littered with tales of players and teams who broke a glass ceiling but ultimately fell away before the summit was attained. The lesson seems to be that the fairytale, captivating as it may be, rarely has a happy ending.

Hammer the hammer.

Like it or not, last weekend’s typhoon-related cancellations in the final round of World Cup pool games have given us some inequitable quarter-final match-ups in terms of preparation times for the protagonists.

Maybe it says everything about the way the All Blacks are that the day after they learned their final pool game against Italy had been cancelled, they woke up super early and battered themselves senseless in a training game.

Like it or not, last weekend’s typhoon-related cancellations in the final round of World Cup pool games have given us some inequitable quarter-final match-ups in terms of preparation times for the protagonists.

New Zealand press not giving Joe Schmidt's side much chance of causing an upset.

Hansen was in typically mischievous mood when he set the scene on Monday.

Sergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision to cancel Italy’s World Cup match against New Zealand.

Sergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby’s “ridiculous” decision to cancel Italy’s World Cup match against New Zealand.

It’s probably not a great surprise that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has revealed he’s not a great lover of social media.

TOKYO — The funny thing about World Cups is that they help the All Blacks find their inner Zen.

CAPE TOWN - After years of inane platitudes from All Black coach Steve Hansen about the rivalry with the Boks after his side racked up record scores against their old foes, things changed this week.

Today’s meeting between New Zealand and South Africa will be their 99th.

New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams has hit out at media claims that he is "under pressure" to make the All-Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has issued a statement to clarify comments he made about domestic violence while defending his selection of Sevu Reece.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named four uncapped players in an extended 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship as he looks to finalise his World Cup selections over the next six weeks.

As the musical genre morphs into something exciting and unpredictable, thanks to inventive productions such as Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown, it is clear there is still plenty of room for experimentation within the form.

As it morphs into something exciting and unpredictable, thanks to inventive productions such as Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown, it is clear there is still plenty of room for experimentation within the musical genre.

World Cup winner Dan Carter would not be out of place in the All Blacks squad at the global showpiece in Japan later this year if selectors sent him an SOS to fill the gap left by the injured Damian McKenzie, former coach Graham Henry has said.

This week represents a step back in time for some of Ireland’s senior players.

Ireland will not be losing sleep over Steve Hansen’s suggestion they are struggling with the pressure of being “top dog” since beating his All Blacks side last November, their coach Simon Easterby said.

Steve Hansen says Ireland are struggling with the pressure of being "the top dog" since beating his All Blacks side in November.

Ronan O'Gara has said he believes that Joe Schmidt will return to coaching in New Zealand at some stage in the future.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Steve Hansen will leave his role as New Zealand head coach with his record “unsurpassed”, according to All Blacks chairman Brent Impey.

The Irish boss rejected an offer to join Steve Hansen's backroom staff.

Joe Schmidt's departure as Ireland head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup has also made big news in New Zealand.

Iain Henderson believes Ireland will be able to cope perfectly well with the weight of expectation now on their shoulders following their win over New Zealand.

You cannot blame Joe Schmidt for trying to keep a lid on expectations after this epic first home victory over the All Blacks, but you pity the futility of the exercise.

Joe Schmidt isn’t the only one whose future will be become clear before Christmas.

Games as eagerly anticipated as Saturday’s clash of Ireland and New Zealand rarely deliver on the expectation, but this was special, another one of those I was there days, writes Donal Lenihan.

The last time the reigning Grand Slam champions dared to beat the All Blacks, they followed up by winning the World Cup within a matter of months, writes Peter Jackson.