All Blacks take down Ireland in epic quarter-final, Argentina surge back to beat Wales

Paris, France: New Zealand put in a brilliant defensive performance to prevail 28-24 over Ireland in a titanic World Cup quarter-final, setting up a meeting with Argentina for a place in the final and destroying Irish dreams of a first world title.

The All Blacks played for 20 minutes with 14 men against the Six Nations champions and had to dig deep to defend their try line through 40 phases in the dying seconds as the top-ranked Irish searched for a winning try.

It was an eighth quarter-final loss for the Irish, ended their winning streak at 17 matches and sent flyhalf Johnny Sexton into retirement without the glittering prize with which he had hoped to crown his career.

While quite different from Ireland’s epic win over South Africa in the pool phase, it was equally engrossing with both teams hitting hard in defence and wanting to use the ball in hand when they got it.

Ireland’s variations in attack caused New Zealand problems all night but the All Blacks were ruthless when they got a sniff of the line to pull away on the scoreboard every time the Six Nations champions got close.

Brothers Jordie Barrett, Beauden Barrett and Scott Barrett celebrate after the win.Credit: Getty

Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan scored the tries that sent the three-times champions into the semi-finals for the ninth time and avenged their home series loss to the Irish last year.

The Irish fans sang throughout New Zealand’s haka and the All Blacks made a nervous start, flooring two passes and fluffing two clearance kicks.

They soon found their rhythm, however, and came away with the first points from a Richie Mo’unga penalty after going through 30 phases inside the Irish 22.

Jordie Barrett added another penalty from 49 metres after a turnover and the All Blacks moved out to a 13-0 lead in the 19th minute when winger Fainga’anuku went over in the corner after Beauden Barrett had gathered his own up-and-under.

Ireland cut the deficit with a Sexton penalty before finally breaching the New Zealand line in the 27th minute when centre Bundee Aki’s blend of footwork and power took him through three tacklers.

Ireland’s Jack Conan reacts after narrowly losing the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris,Credit: AP

Another chip over the Irish defence got the All Blacks close to the line again six minutes later, though, and number eight Savea dived over by the flag to take the lead out to 18-10.

New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on almost immediately, however, and his opposite number Jamison Gibson-Park darted over for a converted try to make it a one-point game at the break.

The All Blacks kept their line intact until Smith returned and Mo’unga scythed through the Irish midfield in the 53rd minute, racing clear before sending winger Jordan in for his 28th try in his 29th test.

Sexton revved up the 78,845 crowd after kicking a penalty to the corner in the 64th minute and referee Wayne Barnes awarded a penalty try when the Irish maul collapsed, sending hooker Codie Taylor to the sin bin in further punishment for the All Blacks.

Ireland tried another catch-and-drive but came away with nothing and Jordie Barrett added another penalty in the 69th minute to extend the lead to four points and set up a thrilling but scoreless last 10 minutes.

Ireland went through 37 phases in search of a winning try in the last few minutes, but a steal from Sam Whitelock finally ended the game.

Argentina surge into semi-finals with battling comeback win over Wales

Marseille, France: Carried on a wave of incredible support, Argentina overcame a 10-0 deficit to eventually overwhelm Wales 29-17 as late tries by replacements Joel Sclavi and Nicolas Sanchez took them into the World Cup semi-finals for the third time on Saturday.

Wales made all the early running and deservedly led after a Dan Biggar try but The Pumas chipped back with a series of Emiliano Boffelli penalties to take the lead.

Argentina players celebrate after defeating Wales in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match.Credit: AP

Wales were on the back foot for most of the second half, and though a Tomos Williams try briefly restored their lead, there was a sense of inevitability about Argentina’s emphatic response amid a raucous sea of blue.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Argentina in the same ground where they were brushed aside by England in their opening pool game five weeks ago. They will play either Ireland or New Zealand, who meet in Paris later, next week.

“Wales were a really good and tough team as they always are,” Argentina captain Julian Montoya said. “We knew it was going to be very tight. We like to be a team that fights for everything. (It was) far from perfect but we are going to Paris (for the semi-finals).

“It’s how you embrace the moment and fight for each other. That’s what rugby is about. Two more weeks with this team. I don’t want this to end, ever.”

It was tough for Wales, who had won all four of their group games and had high hopes of a third semi in four tournaments, but they can have no complaints as their early control completely disappeared.

“We knew they were going to be a physical team but a couple of errors let us down,” Wales captain Jac Morgan said

“In all fairness, they capitalised. Devastating for the boys.”

After Argentina started full of attacking intent, Wales turned things round with the opening try after 14 minutes when Biggar combined with George North and a rampaging Gareth Davies, who then sent Biggar in under the posts.

Wales players react after losing the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina.Credit: AP

It was almost all Wales for the next 20 minutes but they added only the conversion and a Biggar penalty and the Pumas hit back at the end of the half.

A sustained five minutes of pressure brought Boffelli two penalties to make it 10-6 at the break, though Wales fans were unhappy at another controversial TMO intervention.

Original referee Jaco Peyper suffered an injury and was replaced by Karl Dickson, who rightly penalised Josh Adams for a needless check on Tomas Cubelli, but was not shown replays of a subsequent assault by an Argentine that may well have reversed it.

A Boffelli penalty closed it to within a point at the start of the second half and he then comfortably banged over another from inside his own half to put the Pumas 12-10 ahead.

Nicolas Sanchez of Argentina breaks with the ball to score his team’s second try.Credit: Getty Images

The Argentine fans ramped up the volume even more, creating a magnificent atmosphere that visibly lifted their men as Wales struggled to regain any sort of foothold.

But they exploded back into the lead with their first attack of the half after 56 minutes as replacement scrumhalf Williams threw a dummy that the entire Puma defence bought, allowing him to scamper through from the back of a ruck.

It proved a rare moment of action in the Argentine half though as the Pumas dominated the next 15, threatening with a series of lineout drives culminating in the massive Sclavi forcing his way over and Boffelli converting to reclaim the lead at 19-17 with 10 minutes to go.

Wales finally got going again but a brilliant diving tackle by Matias Moroni denied Louis Rees-Zammit in the corner as the winger appeared destined to score, and it proved a crucial intervention.

As Wales pressed desperately in the final minutes, Sanchez picked off Sam Costelow for a halfway line interception and raced in under the posts. Boffelli joyously converted and Sanchez polished it off with a penalty to send The Pumas to Paris.

Reuters