Donal Lenihan: The two best teams are contesting World Cup showpiece 

By defeating Ireland and France in two of the greatest games ever seen at a World Cup, and despite both being turned over at the pool stage, New Zealand and South Africa are fully deserving of the right to contest Saturday night’s final.

WE MEET AGAIN: Mark Telea of New Zealand takes on Pieter-Steph du Toit. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

Five days on and the fallout from Ireland’s quarter-final defeat to New Zealand was in evidence from the outset.

Over 50% of the passengers on my flight from Cork to Paris last Thursday were bedecked in some form of Irish gear, keen to show their loyalties, albeit still a bit shell-shocked that Andy Farrell’s men wouldn’t be there with them at the Stade de France for the World Cup semi-final the following evening.