Mighty ABs forge ironclad wall
The attack was a treat to watch. But, make no mistake, it was the All Blacks’ withering defence that laid the foundations for another World Cup quarterfinal masterpiece in Tokyo last night. Steve Hansen’s men set up a heavyweight semifinal against England in Yokohama with a clinical 46-14 dismantling of an outmatched Ireland. They scored seven tries to two late consolation efforts for Joe Schmidt’s men and, for once, it was their work without the ball that was most impressive.
We all marvel at the All Blacks’ attacking prowess – and there was plenty on display in a superb 80-minute effort as they extended their cup knockout win streak to seven. At times it can take the breath away.
But at the end of a stunning performance, which had echoes of the 2015 quarterfinal obliteration of France, you could well and truly point to the New Zealand defence deciding this contest long before it got a bit loose.
The Irish never looked like scoring until the All Blacks eased off. The Kiwis literally stopped them in their tracks and waltzed through to yet another semifinal in the process. Once again the men in green have tumbled at the first knockout hurdle.
The All Blacks put on a defensive masterclass in the first 40 minutes as they strode to a 22-0 lead and had the Irish approaching a state of disintegration. There was no way back from that deep, dark hole.
Sure, the attack was on point as they struck mercilessly with three tries to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Like Aaron Smith’s second score which owed its origins to a brilliant play by Richie Mo’unga on a Jonny Sexton penalty touchfinder that looked to be heading for the corner and a 5m lineout.
Instead, Mo’unga made a fabulously athletic play on the ball to bat it infield and the upshot was the All Blacks worked back upfield, won a scrum put-in and before the Irish could figure out why they weren’t getting their lineout drive ready for a tilt at the New Zealand line, Smith was darting over in the corner.
That was quality. Mo’unga, who had another outstanding match, started it and the sizzling Smith finished things after Sevu Reece and Jack Goodhue had worked some magic off first phase to put George Bridge on a line to the corner. Earlier it has been the black pack rolling up their sleeves, grinding, probing and opening up an easy dart from the ruck for their frisky halfback.
Yes, the attack was crisp and clinical, just as it was eight minutes from the break when Reece’s tackle jarred ball loose and Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett played football down the right touch to complete the scoring.
But this match was well and truly decided by the All Blacks’ defence in that first 40. They made 74 of their 75 tackles. Mo’unga missed one – the rest of his team-mates were perfect. Sam Cane had 12. It was a dramatic role reversal when you think back to those two recent defeats the New Zealanders suffered at Irish hands. All week the All Blacks had hinted that they had something up their sleeve and it was this: they were going to out-Farrell Andy Farrell’s notorious defensive schemes. And they did it brilliantly.
At the end the All Blacks walked off having made 138 of their 149 tackle attempts for a stunning 93 per cent success rate. As well as that pack played, led superbly by Kieran Read, and as well as those backs worked their magic, from Beauden Barrett at the back, to twinkletoed Reece, to Mo’unga’s inspiration inside, this was a night to celebrate defensive fortitude as much as offensive aptitude.
They may need more of the same next week. England look in ominous form.