The rawness of a World Cup quarter-final in which Ireland failed to produce their best effort will live long with Johnny Sexton but the veteran fly-half insists there will be no blame game when the IRFU produces its review of a faltering 2019 campaign for Joe Schmidt’s team.

That Ireland could lose a World Cup quarter-final to the All Blacks is not a major shock in itself. New Zealand just have better cattle, as I said in last week’s column. However, the manner of the loss, even at a remove now of five days, was utterly shocking.

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

Ireland are about to find out there is something radically different about the All Blacks they will face in today's World Cup quarter-final compared with the team they played last November.

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

Whether or not Japan, the Brave Blossoms, continue to defy the odds, in this Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final, the success of Jamie Joseph’s side, on home soil, should open doors at world rugby’s top table.

Jonny May is poised to win his 50th cap for England recalling the missed drinking session that created the opportunity for his debut six years ago.

Some things don't change with the All Blacks. Though they can play rugby with a terrifying beauty, there is a robotic consistency to the way they put opponents to the sword.

Johnny Sexton insists Ireland’s World Cup squad are all business as they prepare for Saturday’s quarter-final against the All Blacks, a stark contrast to four years ago when he believes they were overly emotional a week too early.

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

Wales secured a World Cup quarter-final clash against France next Sunday – but they ended their Pool D campaign with an unconvincing 35-13 victory over Uruguay.

Bodies and minds rested after a weekend off in Fukuoka, Ireland’s players return to work today looking for the elusive spark that could propel them past Samoa and onto a World Cup quarter-final with confidence renewed.

Seeing Joe Schmidt is happy to do so, let’s start with Jack Carty. Even as recently as a week ago, if an Irish team to face the World Cup hosts had been named with Jack at 10, the general reaction might be best characterised by raised eyebrows.

It is not often you can regard a championship Test match as a dress rehearsal. After all, this is the big one, the Guinness Six Nations, rugby’s greatest championship say the marketing men, who for once, may just be right, and certainly the oldest and revered.

Joe Schmidt will today assess his injured players and walking wounded as he prepares for Saturday’s Test with Australia, the final game in this month’s Guinness Series.

Graham Henry can see a day when Joe Schmidt returns home to coach in New Zealand but the World Cup-winning mastermind believes there is no need for the Ireland supremo to start packing his bags right away.

At least that’s Argentina put to bed.

With the crucial World Cup quarter-final taking place in Cardiff at lunch time on Sunday, there will be a curtailed fixture list in the Munster junior league this weekend. The games that are taking place are spread across the weekend; just four games are taking place in Division One, two in Division Two and three in Division Three.

Argentina may have been converted to the joys and rewards of running rugby in the last three years, but the nation’s umbilical cord with physical forward play and their devotion to the scrum, in particular, remain embedded in the collective psyche.

Joe Schmidt last night promised Ireland would forge ahead without Paul O’Connell, but not before admitting his captain’s leadership would leave a massive hole as they prepare for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

By Brendan O’Brien

Joe Schmidt has charged his medical staff with putting his players back together to face Argentina in next Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final after Ireland survived a battle of attrition to defeat France last night.

World Cup Semi-Final

Ireland’s women’s team are out of the European Championship chase with two qualifiers left after losing to Scotland last night at Turner’s Cross.

Ireland 21 Wales 23

Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts started Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Aviva Stadium despite concerns over their fitness.

Flanker Dan Lydiate has been ruled out of Wales’ RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland on Sunday due to an ankle injury, but centre Jamie Roberts and fly-half Rhys Priestland have recovered from knee injuries and will start, the Welsh Rugby Union have announced.

Wales coach Warren Gatland could field a team containing just eight survivors from the World Cup quarter-final win against Ireland in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

Keith Earls would have had a spring in his step anyway as he celebrated becoming a father for the first time.

Wales are continuing to play a waiting game with their injured players ahead of Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

FIRST this and first that, Conor Murray must be tired of it already.

New Zealand rugby chiefs have confirmed today that the All Blacks will face Ireland in a test match in Christchurch next summer.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry and his side are taking little notice of France’s unimpressive World Cup semi-final performance against Wales.

Ireland prop Mike Ross has said he is delighted that Rory Best is fit enough to start tomorrow's World cup quarter-final with Wales in Wellington.

THERE has been plenty of talk this week about needing the flip of a coin to decide tomorrow morning’s World Cup quarter-final between Wales and Ireland (6am Irish time).

Ireland hooker Rory Best has responded well to treatment on his shoulder but remains doubtful to face Wales in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

Wales appear on course to select from strength for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Ireland.

Rory Best’s participation in Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Wales on Saturday is in serious doubt.

I CAN’T be sure if you’re getting the full impact back home but there is something special starting to happen over 12,000 miles away.

JAMIE HEASLIP helped his side into a World Cup quarter-final next week against old rivals Wales and said Ireland would be looking for payback for a controversial Six Nations defeat at the Millennium Stadium last March.