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'Beat NZ? I can't see it': Ireland written off ahead of World Cup quarter-final clash with All Blacks
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How the world media reacted to the All Blacks‘ quarter-final draw against Ireland, and Japan beating Scotland.
Ireland v New Zealand quarter-final
It is a struggle to see how this Ireland team can topple a giant – by Shane Horgan of The Times
“Yesterday’s performance was better than the win over Russia but good enough to beat New Zealand or South Africa? I can’t see it.
“Usually, when two of the game’s Tier One nations, you can find one area of advantage which the weaker team on paper can leverage to secure a victory.
“Sometimes it’s something as simple as passion. In the case of this Ireland team up against the world champions or the Springboks next weekend, I’m struggling to identify that chink of opportunity.
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“That took a long time to yield dividends against Samoa so don’t expect it to do much better against the All Blacks.
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“This is desperately disappointing because we have a flying machine and a world-class stepper. Neither quality is counting for very much because the pair just aren’t touching the ball enough.”
Why anybody would want suffocating rugby of the Irish to prevail over New Zealand is a mystery – By Stuart Barnes of The Times
“A giant green monster capable of sucking the very air out of a game of rugby. The incremental inch by inch of their pick and drive.
“The patience to pound forward, body length by body length. Leave the lightning footwork to others; CJ and co come at you front on and they keep coming. No wonder Joe Schmidt’s men have beaten the All Blacks twice in recent rugby history.
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“For the most part they play a brand of rugby utterly alien to the wide-ranging ambition of the All Blacks. Why any neutral would want this percentage rugby to prevail over the panache of the defending champions is a mystery, other than everyone else’s chances rise when New Zealand fall.”
A mouth-watering Rugby World Cup quarter-final schedule should provide answers to one of the sport's enduring questions: Do teams get peak performance from a bye week or from regular games? #RWC2019 https://t.co/yAyoIVElM6
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 13, 2019
We’ve seen nothing to suggest last-eight success – just the way Schmidt would want it – by Brendan Fanning of The Independent
“Nothing we’ve seen since the Scotland game would incline turf accountants towards making Ireland even money against New Zealand.
“That won’t bother him unduly. Schmidt is so sure about everything he does that he remains mostly unaffected by what happens outside the team bubble. And what does resonate with him is not to a point where he’s sweeping all the paperwork off the table and telling the lads it’s time to start again.”
New Zealand v Ireland – By Christy Doran of Fox Sports Australia
“Despite winning two of their past three matchups against the world champions, the All Blacks are heavy favourites against Ireland.
“Despite a comprehensive 27-3 win over Scotland in their opening pool match, Ireland’s shock 19-12 loss to Japan showed that they hadn’t yet rediscovered their mojo.
“Yet, with Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray in the halves and a disciplined and experienced side around them Ireland can’t be written off.”
Japan beats Scotland
Japan hang on to reach Rugby World Cup last eight and send Scotland out – by Robert Kitson of The Guardian
“Some results deserve to be lit up in neon and this historic victory for Japan was one of them. Never before has any team from Asia reached the quarter-finals of a Rugby World Cup, let alone played such an inspirational brand of rugby.
“This was not just an emotional occasion for the host nation but an electrifying moment for the global game as a whole.
“And it was Scotland who were on the receiving end. It was less a case of them playing or defending poorly and more another object lesson in Japanese excellence.”
Many of Japan's stars will be forever etched into Japanese rugby and World Cup folkore – and they can thank an unlikely source for their meteoric rise to the tournament's quarter-finals. #RWC2019 https://t.co/qLwsZqN3Hc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2019
Japan’s victory over Scotland was brilliant, breathless and beautiful – by Mick Cleary of The Telegraph
“After the devastation, the delirium. After the doubt, the certainty.
Japan laid to rest any qualms about their right to compete among the elite, applied some balm to local grief after Typhoon Hagibis had done its worst, made us all appreciate the fact that the game was taking place at all with a performance that made the heart skip and the soul sing to go through to a quarter-final against South Africa in Tokyo next Sunday, the first time Japan has ever reached the promised land.
“It was a gilt-edged performance. Japan progress, Scotland depart, a clinical summation of a full-blooded occasion.”
Scotland knocked out after being stunned by hosts Japan in Yokohama thriller – by Adam Hathaway of The Independent
“They are light years ahead of the side that beat the Springboks in 2015 as head coach Jamie Joseph has made them tactically smart.
“That win over South Africa was all about hanging in and being brave in the last few minutes, it might never happen again.
“This and their win over Ireland were never in doubt. They were the better side on both occasions and might give the Boks a rattle in the quarter-finals.”
Quarter-final draw
- England v Australia, Saturday, 8.15pm, Oita
- All Blacks v Ireland, Saturday, 11.15pm, Tokyo
- Wales v France, Sunday, 8.15pm, Oita
- Japan v South Africa, Sunday 11.15pm, Tokyo
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
Watch – Oita at Night:
Comments on RugbyPass
Nice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
38 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
38 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
38 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to comments