When their predicament demanded action above and beyond the call of duty, the junior member of the All Blacks’ fraternal holy trinity rose to the occasion.

Sport is cruel, as their head coach Andy Farrell said in the immediate aftermath of a riveting blockbuster of a quarter-final decided by small margins.

“He has been everything that has been good about Irish rugby for nearly two decades," says Jack Conan.

Dan Sheehan will be among the next drivers. He was the fourth youngest member of this squad, already has 20 caps and a tag as ‘world-class’ hooker to his name.

New Zealand thoughts must turn now to dealing with raging hot semi-final favouritism against Argentina - but they haven't got the buzz of beating Ireland out of their system yet

Crucial Andy Farrell is staying while Jack Crowley looks fit to fill Sexton's large boots.

Argentina, who looked far from their usual high standards against England, went on to beat Samoa, Chile and Japan and entered Saturday's quarter-final against Wales riding a long-built momentum.

It was Sexton who was ultimately asked to sum up what the Limerick legend had brought to Irish rugby over a long and illustrious career.

End of an era? Van der Flier wasn’t ready to see it that way.

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There was a steeliness about them as they spoke to the media two days out from this game that was evident in the way they tackled, attacked the breakdown and clinically finished their try-scoring opportunities.

Andy Farrell's side did virtually everything right but in Saturday night's intangible moments, New Zealand prevailed

'These guys kept believing in themselves and rightly so because of the rugby that they're able to play under pressure. I'm immensely proud of absolutely everyone that's connected with Irish rugby'

'It was like being sucker-punched a couple of times'

Double-defeat to Poyet’s Greece, the latest a 2-0 reverse on Friday at Aviva Stadium, was central to Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualification ambitions ending.

NZ media salivate over the All Blacks epic quarter final win over Ireland - with good reason. 

Andy Farrell also spoke of his pride despite falling short of what would have been a men's record-equalling 18th test victory in a row.

The deprivation has plunged Gaza’s population deeper into misery as Israel’s bombardment intensifies one week after Hamas fighters surged across Israel’s separation fence, killing 1,300 Israelis and abducting dozens

Our rugby correspondent in the Stade de France picks the bones from a gut-wrenching World Cup exit for Ireland