New Zealand moved into the semi-finals at the rugby union World Cup on Saturday night following a pulsating 28-24 victory over Ireland at the Stade de France.
They sealed their slot in the last four after resisting a 37-phase session of Irish pressure close to their own try line.
"It's almost as long a period to defend that I've heard of or witnessed," said New Zealand skipper Sam Cane soon after the victory.
"The ability for the boys to just keep turning up for each other is incredible," he added.
"It's pretty clear that defence probably won us the Test match tonight. And, you know, history shows that teams that win World Cups have a very good defence."
The Irish players sank to their knees when the penalty was awarded against them.
'Ifs, buts and maybes'
Cane's counterpart Johnny Sexton admitted he thought his side was on the verge of winning.
"I thought we had them a couple of times," said Sexton. "And then obviously to concede the turnover when we were so close to the line was tough.
"There were probably a couple of overlaps we didn't take full advantage of. But again, incredible to have the stakes so high and going through that many phases just showed what this group is made of."
The final whistle brought an end to Sexton's international career after 116 caps over 14 years and 1,095 international points. It also added another chapter to the tale of Irish quarter-final woe.
No side from the country has reached the last four in the 36-year history of the rugby union World Cup, but the one led by Sexton and coached by Andy Farrell had been widely tipped to go all the way to the crown.
"Fine margins and all that," lamented Farrell. "And if, buts and maybes. But at the end of the day it was two good teams out there playing some outstanding rugby and unfortunately for us, we came out on the wrong side of the score.
"Sport can be cruel sometimes. I suppose that's why we love it so much."
Strong start
Ireland came up against a New Zealand team still smarting from the 2-1 series defeat in July 2022 that had established the Irish at the top of the world rankings.
There was a certain symmetry, then, that Ian Foster's side should be the outfit to end that winning streak on 17 matches.
Richie Mo'unga opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty following sustained pressure near the Irish line.
Jordie Barrett was given the long-range kicking duties and he duly added three more points. A piece of brilliance from his brother, Beauden, led to the first New Zealand try.
He chipped the ball forward and collected it to set up a phase that ended with Leicester Faringa’anuku going over on the left wing.
Mo'unga converted the try. And it was 13-0. Not at all the envisaged scoreline.
Ireland fight back, but not enough
But before New Zealand could savour the gap, Shannon Frizell gave away a penalty and Sexton got his side on the scoreboard.
It was then all Ireland. Bundee Aki skipped through the New Zealand defence to score Ireland's first try and Sexton converted to relaunch the tie at 13-10.
Ardie Savea went over on the right to make it 18-10 but Ireland refused to be cowed.
A couple of New Zealand errors allowed Ireland to work their way down their left wing to the New Zealand five-metre line and from the line-out Jamison Gibson-Park surged over.
Sexton added a few more points to his national record and moments later he kicked the ball out for half-time with the game finely poised at 18-17.
New Zealand struck first in the second half. A hitherto quiet Will Jordan burst over after Mo'unga raced through midfield and fed him the ball.
Jordie Barrett kicked the conversion to make it 25-17.
New Zealand's Codie Taylor was sent to the sin bin for pulling down a scrum and referee awarded a penalty try to rack up the tension at 25-24.
Barrett missed one penalty but redeemed himself moments later when he sent over another one to extend the lead.
'Heck of a game'
Following their surprise victory over Wales in Marseille, Argentina will take on New Zealand next Friday at the Stade de France.
"We know Argentina well," said Foster. "They know us well. We play each other regularly.
"So it will be a heck of a game."
