2nd QF Ireland v New Zealand - Stade de France, Saint Denis

First topic message reminder :

Ireland: Keenan, Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Beirne, Henderson; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, McCarthy, Conan, Murray, Crowley, O'Brien.

New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot

Replacements: Dane Coles, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Samuel Whitelock, Dalton Papali'i, Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie

Referee: Wayne Barnes TMO: Tom Foley

Assistant referees: Matthew Carley and Christophe Ridley

I'm not going all Gregor Paul here (Honestly), but bloody hell Aki and Hansen have been such finds

What a tournament Bundee Aki has had. That's more like Ireland usually play in the opposition 22. Far better support play.

NZ look good again, Ireland came back right into it though. Great match so far.

An incredible match between two fantastic teams is brewing here.

Ireland's lineout faltering which is a concern.

Savea is having an outstanding game. As is Beaudy. Aki yet again standing out for Ireland.

Huge opportunity for Ireland. A try here and they can start the second half nearly level with a man up.

This is a ridiculously fast paced match!

So far for Ireland it’s well done kiwis, I guess.

Frak me. Not sure I can do another 40 mins of this

This game is 10x better than the game we got earlier.

Wow, what a half! Best 40 minutes of the World Cup so far, easily. Ireland have responded superbly to both NZ tries.

tigertattie wrote:This game is 10x better than the game we got earlier.

It's like there s a 50 50 split on quality between the quarters.

An incredible game thus far. 1 point in it a halftime but Ireland with the man advantage to start the second half.

I'd say the benches are evenly matched. Foster has gone with the young props who can offer a lot in the loose but are potential targets in the tight. DMcK has been terrific off the bench for NZ. Conan and Murray usually have an impact though, whilst McCarthy could shine in such a physical game. I do think NK should have Taukei'aho on the bench ahead of Coles.

Erotic stuff for the neutral.

All blacks have been sublime but that yellow was totally unnecessary and Ireland are masters of applying pressure to force mistakes. Given the yellow I think Ireland might kick on now and build a lead. Gréât test match! Gréât intensity from both teams.

Such a smart part of Ireland's attack are those flat kicks that Hansen and Lowe put in once Ireland go wide. It's so hard to cover the wide channel and backfield at the same time.

Porter raging

But as Shakira said, the hips don’t lie!

A slightly kinder bounce from a try for Sheehan here. You can't look away for a moment!

God I love it when when backs run straight and hard with support on the shoulder.

Mouanga is a sexy beast of a 10

Huge test for Ireland now

wow

Great try. Superb conversion to make it two scores.

That might be the killer blow.

Still early to call

Great game. Both teams chucking everything at it.

8 points but still anyones game. £1 says Ireland score next to keep it tight

Congrats nz there still a force.

Ooft. Pure pace causes that. NZs backline is stacked with it. Mo'unga is rapid for a 10 and he's got multiple even quicker options running off him.

Jordie's got his kicking boots too it seems.

Not a good clearance from Beauden though. That's very good first phase ball for Ireland to go again.

Jeez Ireland. You guys like to quit early eh.

Still life in this game yet

Hansen going off has really knocked Ireland's shape here. He's so good acting as a playmaker when needed. It feels like they've lost a layer to the attack.

Ireland attack certainly looking the most blunt I've seen in a long time.

They only need one chance though!

That hit from Cane on Keenan! He's a much maligned player at times but has had a cracking game tonight.

Game on! Yellow to a hooker too which will further disrupt ABs

oooh how the turn tables.
Ireland should be good for more points with the yellow too

My expert option.

Ireland have the better shape and systems. They are doing what they do in training over and over again.

New Zealand are the better at playing what’s in front of them.

1 point game and NZ a man down. It’s now or never for the riverdancers

Oh, wow again!

And it twists again. Sheer power from Ireland and that's more like it in the 22. That's the sort of clinical edge we usually see.

Once Whitelock opts to compete there he basically needs to win the ball or Ireland are very well positioned to dominate the maul.

That's sexton and barrett both missed a dolly now

In pens the players are wandering around. Not sure how much refs are paying attention as normally players are ok.

I stand corrected. Sam Cane has been brilliant

El bummio cheekio squeekio time

I wouldn't say that's a dolly to be fair. Beyond the 10m line and 15m. A big miss though. This is going to the wire.

Soft pen from Ireland there - needless

That's the dumbest penalty a player can concede.

No 7&1/2 wrote:In pens the players are wandering around. Not sure how much  refs are paying attention as normally players are ok.

Yeah Porter def knew what he has doing in front of the kicker in that last one. Barrett gets it over anyway

Beauden has had a terrific game in the backfield but that is such a poor decision to try to go on the outside. Huge opportunity for Ireland. NZ still a man down.

Feck me this is tense

What is it with teams like NZ. Just when they need the luck in the big games, they get the luck.

Such thin margins. The hold up over the line, now Doris' very basic error costing Ireland an attack.

How the f**k has Jordie managed that. Absurd.

We just haven't been good enough. NZ have taken their chances brilliantly.

Not over yet - Ireland to run the length for a try in overtime ...

Ah well always the next world cup

Great game well done nz

No complaints really, happy they they left it all out there.