Ireland believe they can break quarter-final curse against All Blacks
The upcoming Rugby World Cup quarterfinal between Ireland and the All Blacks is the stuff of fairytales. It’s a dream matchup for two teams with genuine ambitions of hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup in triumph later this month.
Ireland are the world’s top-ranked side, and they’re more than deserving of that moniker on the back of their incredible 17 Test unbeaten streak, but they’ll need to create history to progress any further in this competition.
In the nine World Cups, Ireland have made it to the quarterfinals on seven occasions, but they’ve failed to make it through to the final four each and every time.
But there’s something different about this Ireland team. Spurred on by the thousands of travelling fans in green, the current crop of players are full of belief ahead of a blockbuster quarterfinal.
“We have worked on our mental game for the last four years and put ourselves in different scenarios to prepare for this,” captain Johnny Sexton said.
“Each quarter-final, or where we haven’t got through our pool, have all been different, and it’s a different group again. Each of those groups lost once. It wasn’t the same group losing quarter-finals year after year.
“If it was club rugby it might be different but I don’t think we are carrying much baggage. It is a one-off game and we have got to prepare for now.”
Standing in their way are the All Blacks - a team who know a thing or two about winning World Cups. With the likes of Aaron Smith and two-time champion Sam Whitelock in their ranks, this team has winning experience on the biggest stage.
But both of those legends, as well as some others, will don the black jersey for the final time on Saturday if New Zealand fail to deliver at Stade de France.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton said winning the World Cup is what “you dream of” as a player, but the prospect of knocking the All Blacks out wouldn’t bring about any “personal” satisfaction.
“I haven’t thought once about personally what the game means. It’s all about the team, it’s nothing personal,” Sexton mentioned.
“I’ve had some great battles against New Zealand over the years, with Ireland and the Lions. What you learn is every game is as tough as the last. That’s what we’re preparing for, the toughest game we have ever faced, and we are trying to put ourselves in the frame of mind that we are going to be ready for it.”
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
Go to comments