/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F20%2F31%2Fsports-mole-favicon-32x32.png "Sports Mole FAVICON"){kind=small}
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F38%2Frwc-header_2.jpg "Rugby World Cup header 3")
Reaction
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F38%2Fjoe-schmidt.jpg "Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt pictured on September 20, 2019")
Luke McGrath confident Ireland World Cup exit will not taint Joe Schmidt legacy
Captain Rory Best also suffered defeat to New Zealand in his final game for the national side.Oct 20, 10:08
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F42%2Frory-best.jpg "Rory Best in action for Ireland on October 19, 2019")
Tearful Rory Best thanks "unbelievable Irish crowd" as he bids farewell
Best paid tribute to outgoing head coach Joe Schmidt after the 46-14 quarter-final defeat.Oct 19, 14:29
The Match
Match Report
Steve Hansen's men ran out 46-14 winners in Tokyo in Joe Schmidt's last match as Ireland head coach.
Build-up
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F41%2Fjohnny-sexton.jpg "Johnny Sexton scores for Ireland on October 12, 2019")
Johnny Sexton warns NZ about strong-arm tactics against Ireland
The Irish playmaker thinks two New Zealand players avoided red cards in Dublin three years ago.Oct 18, 09:19
Joe Schmidt talks up Peter O'Mahony importance ahead of World Cup quarter-final
O'Mahony has held off the challenge of the in-form Rhys Ruddock to start against New Zealand.Oct 17, 09:52
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F40%2Fsteve-hansen.jpg "New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen pictured on October 2, 2019")
Steve Hansen not thinking of quarter-final as last game
Hansen has already announced he will step down as New Zealand head coach after the World Cup.Oct 17, 07:09
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F10%2Fsean-cronin.jpg "Sean Cronin pictured in March 2016")
Rob Herring joins up with Ireland as Sean Cronin exits World Cup
Sean Cronin has been ruled out of the tournament with a neck injury.Oct 17, 06:51
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F39%2Fcian-healy.jpg "Cian Healy during the captain's run on March 27, 2019")
Cian Healy praises Greg Feek for improving Ireland's set pieces
Former All Blacks prop Feek joined Leinster as scrum coach in 2010 and stepped up to Ireland a year later.Oct 16, 10:53
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F19%2F39%2Fjohnny-sexton_1.jpg "Johnny Sexton in action for Ireland on September 22, 2019")
Johnny Sexton confident Ireland on course to peak against New Zealand
The fly-half says the negativity around the country's World Cup campaign is "strange".Oct 14, 17:31
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/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FGambleAware%20Secondary%20Main%20Grey.png "on February 3, 2024"){kind=small}