Ireland v New Zealand LIVE: All Blacks win World Cup classic

New Zealand held on in a pulsating Rugby World Cup quarter-final to deny Ireland in the tournament’s best game so far.

Both teams played stunning rugby for large periods, with the All Blacks clicking right from the start as they burst into an early lead.

The two teams traded blows as Leicester Fainga'anuku, Bundee Aki, Ardie Savea, Jamison Gibson-Park and Will Jordan all crossed for tries in a game where it took the very best attacking rugby to unlock to brutally good defences.

An Ireland penalty try and a second yellow card of the game for New Zealand gave Ireland hope, with four points in it as time ticked down.

But New Zealand survived an extraordinary spell of Irish possession that lasted more than 30 phases as they threw everything at that late score, falling agonisingly short to exit the tournament at the quarter-final stage once again.

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The mistake finally comes after more than 30 phases of Ireland possession in a remarkable phase of play, and New Zealand kick into touch. That’s a breathless end to an incredible game of rugby and the All Blacks are through to the semi-finals. Heartbreak for Ireland. Utter heartbreak for the country’s greatest generation.

The time ticks beyond 80 and still Ireland have the ball as the phases keep on coming.

There are just two minutes left and Ireland have the ball. Lowe stays in field but play is on halfway and Ireland have to score a try. Can they do it?!

There are four points in it as the clock ticks down. Can Ireland find a score to make history, or will New Zealand deny them at the quarter-final stage once again?

Ireland kick for the corner again and look to push New Zealand with a powerful maul, but Barrett does a phenomenal job to hold it up and the All Blacks survive. Doris knocks on from the clearing kick and you can see the nerves starting to set in as the clock ticks towards the final few minutes.

Contact off the ball gives Barrett an opportunity to make amends for that miss straight away and he does, bisecting the posts for three more points.

Porter is fuming that he’s pinged once again for turning his hips at the scrum. Whether the ref is right or wrong, the communication has been very clear and Porter hasn’t adjusted. He’s given a let-off by a missed penalty from Barrett though.

That penalty try was always likely to result in a yellow, and so it does, with Turner heading to the bin for ten crucial minutes.

Ireland drive over the line and are illegally halted by New Zealand. It’s a penalty try and a conversion right under the posts and Ireland are right back in this once again.

Jonny Sexton kicks to the corner after Ireland win another penalty in New Zealand territory and turns to whip up the Irish fans in the stands. He knows that this is a huge moment.

Ireland make changes, and in coming on Connor Murray becomes the most-capped Irish player ever at Rugby World Cups, overtaking Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell.

Sexton makes the decision to go for the posts and get the points difference down to a score, but he misses wide. The Irish veteran is furious with himself.

Hansen is down and it looks like the same injury he was worried about before this game. It looks like he’ll be unable to continue.

Simply sublime from Mo’unga, who makes a brilliant break and puts Barrett away for a score in the corner. And the conversion is good too from a wide angle to rub salt into Irish wounds.

It’s wonderful rugby as Ireland put the ball through the hands and work dep into New Zealand territory. James Lowe does well to not give away the penalty after being a bit isolated, but as the Irish go through the phases again there’s another isolated runner and the All Blacks get the decision.

Smith is back on and New Zealand’s full allocation win a scrum penalty, once again for illegal technique, which Porter is not happy about one bit.

Another crossfield kick is inches away from being grasped by Sheehan out on the touchline. If that had found Irish hands he’d have surely been in for another try, but the bounce wasn’t favourable for Ireland there.

Hansen kicks down the line when isolated and the ball bounces just right so that Ireland get the 50-22. Ireland win their own lineout too, which wasn’t a given after the first-half set-piece display. An attempted crossfield kick doesn’t go to hand though, so the chance to pick up points evaporates.