Live: All the reaction to All Blacks thrashing of Ireland
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Read more:
Premium: Champions in the making - the ABs' godlike 80 minutes
Liam Napier: Crushing and cruel - How ABs exposed Ireland
'Best ever': Steve Hansen takes aim at All Blacks' critics
Player ratings: The ABs who knocked stuffing out of Irish
Humiliating: World media reacts to Ireland loss
'Disrespectful: Ireland's massive mistake during haka
Cheika hits out at cruel media following Wallabies humiliation
Fantastic formula: Immaculate Barrett reveals secret All Blacks plan
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"Joe Schmidt’s strike plays were in the chamber but the team couldn’t unload any bullets. Was this the best 10 years Irish rugby will ever know or has he laid the groundwork for a permanent seat at the elite end of the global game? Over to Andy Farrell to find out. (More from the Irish Times)
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Meanwhile, over the ditch, the knives are out for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, even though he's kind of already bladed himself."If he's true to his word, it;'s time for divisive Cheika to step down", goes the Sydney Morning Herald headline, with Georgina Robinson writing "It's been a wild ride, Michael Cheika. Thanks for the memories".
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England coach Eddie "Aussie" Jones was showing no sympathy for Cheika, his old club mate.“At this moment, not a lot of sympathy, no, because I’m enjoying the win and I think I’m allowed to enjoy the win. Maybe later in the week I might, so ask me later in the week.”Eddie's got bigger fish to fry - a date with the All Blacks.
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By the numbers...Beauden Barrett may have been named man of the match, but it was the forwards who laid the groundwork after being outplayed in Dublin last year.For those of you who love the numbers...Kieran Read led the way with 16 runs. SIXTEEN RUNS. Are we now taking him for granted a bit.There were a lot of terrific All Black performances in the pack but Joe Moody stood out for me...he was missing in Dublin last year where starting props Owen Franks and Karl Tu'inukuafe had poor games.Moody really led the way in setting the platform early on...he made seven runs for around 30 metres.
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Mark Palmer of The Times writes:"Who can stop New Zealand? The question is as pertinent as ever. Sorry Eddie (Jones), but if this is what they can do after a fortnight off and a month since their last proper challenge, you struggle to see how they will now be knocked off their stride, never mind off their perch."Having routed Ireland while giving the distinct impression they still had gears to click through, overconfidence might be the biggest threat to the pursuit of that record-breaking third straight title."The energy, the accuracy, the anticipation? The All Blacks ran us through the full gamut of qualities you would look for in a potential world champion."
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Palmer was so impressed with the All Blacks that he reckons Scotland - who didn't progress out of the pool - had a lucky escape.If you were (Scotland coach) Gregor Townsend, meanwhile, you might have been starting to wonder if losing to Japan was really the most painful way you could have exited this tournament."Scotland, remember, were blown away by Ireland almost as emphatically as Joe Schmidt’s side lost to New Zealand. Pool A’s runners-up spot was never likely to open a world of opportunity."
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Scrolling way, way down the Daily Mail, past all the soccer stories.-
"England were in a ruthless mood....
Eddie Jones had ordered his team to play like the samurais who once roamed the hills overlooking the stadium. They responded by drawing their sharpest sword to deliver one of England's most comprehensive World Cup performances since 2003. A statement scoreline to make the world take note."
The world can take note, after reading all the EPL stories.
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England's flankers were sensational against Australia...Andy Bull (the Guardian) reckoned: "Eddie Jones calls them his Kamikaze Kids, which fits – because the way Tom Curry and Sam Underhill play is right out of a comic book."You could picture it in Roy Lichtenstein prints. Pop! Pow! Whaam! Boom! They made 36 tackles between them against Australia, none better than the one Underhill put in on the strapping No 8, Isi Naisarani, early in the first half, which was one of those blows that seem to reverse the entire flow of a game."
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Looking ahead to tonight's games...WALES ARE NOT BORING OKAY
Star Wales back Josh Adams has hit back at France winger Yoann Huget after the Les Bleus’ flier suggested the Welsh play boring rugby.(Wales Online reports)
At a press conference the Frenchman insisted his side have known all about Wales’ game plan for years, explaining his view that Warren Gatland’s side try to squeeze teams out of the contest.
“Wales have this ability to put their opponents under pressure, to wait for their opponent to make a mistake so they can score,” said Huget.
“Aside from that, their kicking game doesn’t bother me. I really like that. We’re ready for everything.”
Wales scored 17 tries in their opening four games of the tournament, while France have only managed nine tries in their matches against Tonga, USA and Argentina.
“Everyone’s got an opinion,” shrugged Adams. “Maybe in the past we’ve kept games a little bit closer and kicked a little bit more ball, but that’s dependent on the game plan and how we look at the opposition.
“I definitely think in the last four games we’ve moved the ball quite well and have scored some good tries, actually. It’s another string to our bow.
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On to Japan v South Africa...
This from Japan's Lappies Labuschagne, one of two South Africa born players in the Brave Blossoms.
"I really love South Africa and the people there but I also love Japan and everyone here. his is our team. This has become our new home.
"We want to make everyone in Japan proud, everyone in this camp, this group, we've worked really hard to reach the goal we set up for ourselves."
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All Black captain Kieran Read: "Our first half probably set up the game. We put plenty of pressure on. They're a strong forward-oriented team who can attack as well… we were able to score some tries which gave us an opportunity to go in front."It was a very tough test match. The score probably flattered us. We had to make a lot of tackles."
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