New Zealand thrash Ireland to set up World Cup semi-final with England

" Aaron Smith's double sets rampant All Blacks on way to victory
" England await reigning champions in Yokohama semi-final

The forecast rain did not turn up but a big black cloud did. New Zealand are never more menacing than when they are portrayed as vulnerable, which they were in the buildup to this quarter-final, but they left Ireland scattered all over the turf to set up a semi-final with England.

Attention was focused on the lack of international experience between scrum-half and full-back but the history of the All Blacks contains several examples of getting an opponent to look one way when the danger is coming from another direction. Ireland prepared for a battle out wide, but the ball only went there after New Zealand had driven hard time and again through the belly of the Ireland pack. It was a victory based on forward supremacy.

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