Tearful end for Best as All Blacks blow Ireland away

New Zealand sent out an ominous warning to their remaining Rugby World Cup rivals after thrashing Ireland 46-14 in Saturday’s quarter-final match in Tokyo.

The three-time and defending champions had lost two of their past three matches against the Irish but this performance better reflected the All Black’s overall record against the men in green which now stands at 29 wins to two defeats, with one draw.

“Our attack game has gone to a new level,” said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, with Beauden Barrett again majestic from fullback and wingers George Bridge and Sevu Reece involved in everything.

But the Kiwi coach said credit was due to the graft offered by a front five who outmuscled a touted Irish pack and employed a ferocious defence that stymied the men in green.

“Numbers one to five laid the platform,” he said, adding that the back row get the immediate benefits, while the half-backs and Barrett “get to drive the game”.

After a tight opening 10 minutes, New Zealand flexed their muscles after which the result was never in doubt. The All Blacks ended with seven tries, the first two from scrum-half Aaron Smith.

Certainly England will provide a better test for the holders, having earlier thrashed Australia 40-16 in the first quarter-final in Oita.

The All Blacks had not played for almost two weeks since their 71-9 victory over Namibia at the same ground after tournament organisers cancelled their final pool game against Italy due to Typhoon Hagibis.

Hansen’s side constantly drove Ireland back at the breakdown and in the tackle and never allowed them to get their close-running game going.

Departing Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said he was “heartbroken” at his team’s defeat and could not explain why they made so many mistakes.

After his last match in charge, Schmidt admitted he would carry the “scars” of losses like that which condemned Ireland to yet another quarter-final exit – their seventh. “I don’t really have an excuse for it or a reason for it,” the Kiwi coach said.

It was also the 124th and last time in an Ireland shirt for captain Rory Best, who received a rousing and sustained ovation from Irish fans despite the crushing defeat. The Ulsterman finishes his career as Ireland’s third-most capped player and the most capped forward, behind only legendary centre Brian O’Driscoll and flyhalf Ronan O’Gara.