The quarterfinal meeting between Ireland and New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup comes with a strong feeling of reckoning. 1-ranked team just before of the Rugby World Cup, displacing New Zealand from a spot it had occupied since the ranking system began. Japan’s wins over Ireland and Scotland in Pool A went against pre-tournament predictions and saw the hosts emerge atop their pool, forcing second-place Ireland into a quarterfinal against Pool C winner New Zealand. The fact Ireland has beaten New Zealand twice since the last World Cup is also a boost. “I’m hoping that having lost a pool game that we’ve got that quarterfinal performance out of our system that we’ve had in other tournaments.

Source: thestar October 14, 2019 23:26 UTC