New Zealand number eight Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring a try during the All Blacks vs Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Photo: AFP/ Anne-Christine Poujoulat
Global media have reacted to the blockbuster All Blacks defeat against Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final with glittering praise for the Kiwi's and commiseration for the Irish "nightmare".
The Irish Times lamented that Ireland's dream had "died' in Paris, and the glass ceiling of never being able to make it out of a World Cup quarter-final remained in place.
"They threw everything at the All Blacks and more, but ran into an unrelentingly defiant and proud opponent.
"Ireland's passing and handling skills were always at their sharpest, and they never looked quite as comfortable or as assured as they had in their previous 17 wins on the spin."
And at the Irish Independent it was all heartbreak, glass ceilings and regret. But there was also time to acknowledge the All Blacks and the people behind them.
"So, the winning run ends at the worst possible moment and, in truth, they were beaten by the better team on the night.
"That will haunt them. The All Blacks came with a plan and executed brilliantly. Joe Schmidt's [former Ireland coach, now with the All Blacks] finger-prints were all over it as they won the breakdown battle and lorded it in the air."
The All Blacks clap Ireland's captain Jonathan Sexton after the game Photo: Photosport/ Andrew Cornaga
London's Daily Telegraph wondered if Ireland would ever get such a chance again to break their Rugby World Cup hoodoo. They called it a "nightmare" for Ireland.
"At the end, some Ireland players sunk to the ground. Johnny Sexton stared into the distance in disbelief. The All Blacks sportingly embraced their opponents.
"Both sides had delivered a phenomenal contest, arguably the best quarter-final in World Cup history, but once again it ended in lung-bursting heartbreak for Ireland."
"It was a game so compelling and of such quality that it deserved to be the final. New Zealand's reward is a semi-final against Argentina and they will now fancy their chances of going all the way now. One wonders if Ireland will ever get such a chance again...."
Irish fans reacting near the end of the match Photo: Photosport/ INPHO - Dan Sheridan
French sport site, L'equipe, said the way was now open for the All Blacks to make the finals.
It said Ireland had given the quarter-final their all but were beaten by the curse of the Irish, an All Black "mountain", and "enormous defence" by the men in black - all this above a headline reading "The All Blacks are forever".
It singled out the "crazy resistance" of the All Blacks in repelling 37 phases in the last moments of the test; "a stunning final defensive sequence lasting more than six minutes".
A commentator on Rugby Pass said the game was magnificent, the margins fine and the possibility of the All Blacks slipping up in the semi-final growing.
"This win might be the greatest All Blacks' World Cup knockout win of all-time. Outside of World Cup finals, it has a strong case.
"They haven't had to beat the world's number one team before due to always holding that tag themselves. Given the recent history between these two rivals and the historic series loss at home, they were rightly priced as underdogs...
"The biggest danger for the All Blacks is next. Plenty of teams have emptied the tank in underdog knockout victories only to have their euphoric state smashed to bits the next week."
An Irish sea of green at the Stade de France, before the match Photo: Photosport/ Andrew Cornaga
South Africa's Rugby365 website thought the All Black win was 'incredible" but felt sorry for the Irish.
"The match was the [eighth] time the Irish reached the quarterfinal and they failed to book a semifinal spot every time...
"The win is sweet revenge for the [All Blacks'] historic home series defeat at the hands of Ireland last year.
"The All Blacks had to overcome two yellow cards for the incredible victory."
It rated Tyrel Lomax, Richie Mo'unga, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Jordie Barrett as the top players on the field, giving them 8s out of 10. The site's highest rated player for Ireland was Bundee Aki, which it graded 7.5.