• Aaron Smith’s double sets rampant All Blacks on way to victory
• England await reigning champions in Yokohama semi-final
The forecast rain did not turn up but a big black cloud did. New Zealand are never more menacing than when they are portrayed as vulnerable, which they were in the buildup to this quarter-final, but they left Ireland scattered all over the turf to set up a semi-final with England.
Attention was focused on the lack of international experience between scrum-half and full-back but the history of the All Blacks contains several examples of getting an opponent to look one way when the danger is coming from another direction. Ireland prepared for a battle out wide, but the ball only went there after New Zealand had driven hard time and again through the belly of the Ireland pack. It was a victory based on forward supremacy.
Written by Paul Rees at Tokyo Stadium
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/19/new-zealand-ireland-rugby-world-cup-match-report under the title “New Zealand thrash Ireland to set up World Cup semi-final with England”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
