New Zealand eliminated Ireland at the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals once again, this evening, a thrilling encounter settled by the finest of margins over a dramatic eighty minutes in Paris.

A seesawing game was certainly far closer than the 2019 edition in Japan, but it will be of scant consolation as the Irish contemplate another agonising exit at the last eight.

Ultimately, though, the lead was New Zealand’s throughout the entire proceedings as an early 13-0 lead inside the opening quarter was never quite eroded, despite Ireland gutsily bringing it to a nerve-wrangling one-point margin on two occasions.

The All Blacks now go on to face Argentina in the semi-finals as Ireland exit, the loss being legendary Johnny Sexton’s last as he retires in familiarly heartachingly circumstances.

Reunited against former Irish coach, Joe Schmidt and Ian Foster, All Blacks Coach, who enjoyed the success of three Six Nations titles but endured another disastrous quarterfinal exit four years ago, in Japan, against this same, ominous, All Blacks opposition, tainting an overall good tenure.

Physicality showed how important the breakdown battle would prove, a momentous thirty-phase New Zealand attack earning scant change from Ireland’s sturdy defence, the All Blacks settling for a kick at goal, slotted by Richie Mo’unga for the first points of the night.

Ireland reacted by manoeuvring themselves into the attacking twenty-two for the first time, Hugo Keenan’s instinctive pass to James Lowe agonisingly beyond the juggling winger’s reach.

New Zealand were next to score, though, centre, Jordie Barrett blasting a brilliant long-range penalty sailing through the sticks, to dim the Irish atmosphere in a raucous Stade de France noise.

Green buoyancy was further quelled as New Zealand scored the opening try, devastatingly.

Full-back, Beauden Barrett, began the move with a chip and chase. From which, rapid recycling allowed cool hands from Reiko Ioane and Will Jordan freed winger, Leicester Fainga’anuku who scurried into the corner, a crisp finish on the biggest stage.

The Irish optimism darkened again with Mo’unga making the conversion for 13-0.

From the restart, Ireland reduced it to ten points, Johnny Sexton slotting a penalty as Andy Farrell’s men settled down from the setback of New Zealand’s early proficiency.

That spurred Ireland on as they put the All Blacks under the pump, a flowing move eventually leading to Sexton freeing centre, Bundee Aki, the Connacht centre putting the head down and burrowing over unstoppably for his sixth try of a superb, individual tournament.

Sexton converted and the margin was three.

Then it was the All Blacks’ turn to show why they are two-time champions from 2011 and 2015, the potency striking daggers into the hopes of Irish hearts once again, as number eight, Ardie Savea soared into the corner despite James Lowe’s valiant effort to bundle him into touch.

Mo’unga put the touchline kick wide as New Zealand went eight points, more than a converted try, into the lead.

The pendulum then lurched Ireland’s way as Ian Foster’s side went down to fourteen, scrumhalf, Aaron Smith sin binned for a deliberate knock-on.

Andy Farrell’s men pinned the All Blacks in, then, a rumbling lineout, functioning better as the game developed, went near, their own number nine, Jamison Gibson-Park peeling off, darting, and dotting down Ireland’s second score.

Crucial timing and the nail-biter ratcheted up more by Sexton’s successful kick, leaving it a one-point gap at the interval, the nerve-shredding billing living up to expectation.

Restarting with a man advantage, Mack Hansen kicked wide, where it bounced tantalisingly in front of Dan Sheehan chasing in, the All Blacks back to fifteen men and still with their noses in front.

A lightning Lowe break came to nought as nerves frayed on both sides.

Ireland, though, conceded a third try as New Zealand illustrated just why they were the last team to beat the current world number one’s.

Scintillatingly, Mo’unga accelerated through a gaping hole, puncturing Ireland apart as he calmly picked out wing, Jordan in support on his right, a simple finish steadily executed and a sucker punch to Ireland, woes encapsulated by Jordie Barrett’s brilliant adding of the extras, 17-25.

Requiring two scores to have a hope, Sexton chose an unfortunate time to mislay his usual kicking accuracy, a penalty drifting wide and reprieving the All Blacks, much to the dismay of Farrell and co watching on, like the nation with heads buried in hands, from the coaching gantry.

However, Farrell’s side closed it to just one again, with a penalty try sixteen minutes from the end, seven points and perhaps another momentum swinger as Ireland erupted.

Even with hooker Codie Taylor yellow carded, New Zealand’s scrum kept dominating, Barrett erring once from the tee. But not twice as his second penalty edged them four in front, cool as a cucumber with his second attempt moments later.

This set up a grandstand final ten minutes, the finale commenced by Caelan Doris diving over the line only to be held up by momentous All Blacks defending.

That mirrored an epic final Irish onslaught, thirty Ireland phases repelled as a helter-skelter sporting spectacle sees the All Blacks advance again, deep into the tournament.

New Zealand progress to the final four to face Argentina in the first semi-final on Friday night in the Stade de France, a place on rugby’s ultimate international stage at stake.

Ireland, Farrell and Sexton and all the players, whilst heroic in defeat must process what will be the bitterest of pills as a seventeen-game unbeaten run ends once more at the quarterfinal hurdle.