How Ireland and New Zealand rated in Rugby World Cup quarter-final thriller
TOP RATED: Bundee Aki of Ireland after his side's defeat. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
The rock upon which so much is built, Keenan was there as expected when the situation demanded, fielding kicks and always on-hand in attack.
Hansen was wrapped up like a Mummy in a bid to get his calf right and ready for action, a sign of how much Ireland have invested in him. His white headguard was also prominent as Ireland came back into the game but he was replaced early.
The classic unsung, understated player who actually contributes so much, Ringrose did as he does, the right thing at the right time.
The unlikely poster boy of Ireland’s World cup campaign (big poster, big campaign), Aki carried on in that ego-free superstar mode, getting Ireland properly on the scoreboard with his fifth try of the tournament.
How far away must Lowe’s homeland have seemed as he belted out the anthems of his adopted country, a proud and fierce wearer in green. Always available, always willing.
‘The Last Dance’ is on everyone’s playlist as they watch one of Ireland’s greatest ever player approach the end but try as he might Sexton was unable to bring his long-proven class to bear.
The Auckland-born scrum-half was determined to show what he had to offer and although he is known for the speed of his pass, it was his opportunism that proved so valuable when touching down.
There was another mountain to scale for this man-mountain type, a shift to put in that Porter has consistently provided but he did concede penalties that were to prove costly.
Sheehan was back to his assured self after injury last week to shore up a faltering line-out but it wobbled badly again, unsettling the side and leading to scores.
New Zealand are a much more proactive set-piece side than they ever used to be and Furlong knew that they would have to be on his mettle in the scrum. It was a tough evening.
There was a need for a top-drawer performance from those in the engine room and Beirne duly made a typically hard-nosed contribution.
Far more than a powerhouse lock, Henderson’s reading of the game meant that he was always to the fore in the thick of the action but he gave way early.
The arch disruptor was prominent throughout, in the loose and as a go-to man at the lineout, notably winning the ball from where Jamison Gibson-Park was to dart over.
Normally such a reliable defensive element, the Ireland flanker was caught out by the lovely deceptive gliding run of opposition fly-half, Richie Mo’unga.
The ironman in the Ireland back-row, Doris gave his usual whole-hearted showing but he was not able to influence matters where it really counted at the breakdown.
Conor Murray would not have been best pleased to have been adjudged to have tugged Beauden Barrett for a penalty shortly after coming on, one that was duly converted by Jordie Barrett, a sign of the pressure that Ireland were under.
Ronan Kelleher was so close to glory when he drove for the line but was held up by Jordie Barrett. There was plenty of endeavour in the contributions of the replacements with the likes of Joe McCarthy giving his all but unable to influence proceedings in the hoped-for manner.
So talented, so dangerous, so much so that England have copied this playmaker-at-the-rear strategy, Barrett was at the heart of this performance, emanating from his wonderful try-making chip-and-gather.
The fast-paced, nerveless, well-balanced danger man in New Zealand ranks, Jordan is able to sniff out an opening from a hundred paces as was proven when finding Mo’unga on the fly-half’s break to score.
Invariably in the right place at the right time, Ioane was on hand for the opening try and fulfilled his role with customary poise and precision.
The heft in the New Zealand midfield, a target man in attack and defence, able to draw tacklers to him to free up others. Barrett was a constant presence in open play with his booming boot an added asset.
The beneficiary of Mark Telea’s disciplinary exile, Fainga’anuku was given an unexpected opportunity to show his worth and took his chance superbly with a try.
Mo’unga is a clever, all-round player who is able to take the ball to the line as well as to spot any weakness in the opposition defensive line, his passing and kicking proving fruitful.
As important to the tempo of the team as Sexton is in setting the tone for his team, Smith has belied his age and has provided sniping try-scoring potency although his sin-binning just before half-time almost proved ruinous.
Back from suspension to add much-needed ballast and cleverness to the New Zealand front-row, de Groot was at the heart of his team’s plan for neutralising the strong Ireland scrum.
There was an unglamourous job to be done at the heart of the New Zealand front-row but Taylor erred badly when he cost his side for conceding the penalty try and getting sin-binned.
There was a huge sigh of relief when Lomax overcame his various ailments to anchor the All Black scrum in the same sort of stable manner as he has done over the last year.
One of the key figures of the last decade of New Zealand rugby, Retallick may not have quite hit the heights of old due to injury and other factors but he put in a decent shift.
There was an onus on Barrett the lock to provide all-round excellence in the All Black forward pack and he delivered in that regard, anchoring the scrum and winning his ball.
There was dismay when injury affected Frizell’s availability for he is the glue and the grunt that every pack needs and Frizell was to the fore in New Zealand’s dominance at the breakdown
The favoured man in the eyes of some who would prefer to see Dalton Papali’i in the cherished no.7 starting shirt but Cane proved up to the task, his turnover-creating tackle on Caelan Doris setting the tone.
The multi-layered Zinzan Brooke-type no.8, capable of great things without ever ignoring the essentials, Savea was in the thick of the action throughout, winning his side’s first turnover and grabbing an important try.
They did what they had to do when they came on, keeping their team’s noses in front and not doing anything that would hand the game over to Ireland.
The replacement bench is schooled in the All Black way, making sure that the basics are tended to and that each individual assumes responsibility.
Sam Whitelock was a calm presence up-front, scrapping for possession while the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown kept the backline honest when they came under that 37-phase pressure from Ireland in the closing stages.
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