This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
On a day when England thrashed Australia 40-16 in the first quarter-final, New Zealand's All Blacks delivered a blistering performance to outclass Ireland 46-14 in their last eight-clash on October 19, 2019, at Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The three-times champions, who ran in seven tries, effectively secured victory by halftime and set up a semi-final clash with England. Their superb performance reflected their overall record against Ireland, now standing at 29 wins, two defeats, and one draw.
After a tight opening 10 minutes, the New Zealanders dominated possession and territory, playing fluent, varied rugby at high pace. Quicksilver scrumhalf Aaron Smith led the way with the first two tries.
England will provide a better test for the holders next week in Yokohama, but the All Blacks' performance on October 19, 2019, was a testament to their strength and determination.
“The Irish are a great side, we have come up against them before and they have been on top,” All Blacks captain Kieran Read said. “We knew the start was important and we did that well by getting points on board early. It was a heck of a test match, really tough out there and we really felt it. It was awesome.”
For Ireland's outgoing skipper Rory Best, the game represented a bitter end to his international career. He was magnanimous in defeat, however. “The All Blacks were fantastic. We felt we had prepared well and had a game plan,” he said. “They just came out of the blocks hard and never let us get off that again. They were just really clinical.”
