Ireland wake up to sad reality of defeat after All Blacks shut them out

Statistically speaking, all World Cups are an exercise in misery. Twenty teams arrived in France with a dream, but only one of them will lift the trophy. There is no major sporting competition that comes with favourable odds but every team carries on hoping that this will be their time.

The basic maths, of course, will be no consolation to Ireland’s fans after the devastating quarter-final defeat by the All Blacks in Paris on Saturday night. Expectation had never been higher – on the streets of the French capital, rammed with tens of thousands of exuberant green-clad supporters, or in the cities, towns and villages back home. Consequently, the sense of crushing disappointment has never been more profound.

Supporters, players and coaches alike are coming to terms with yet another last-eight exit on the biggest stage, and it is only natural for them to wonder what might have been. Could Ireland have done more? No. Could they have done anything differently? Certainly. “Ifs, buts and maybes,” as the rueful head coach, Andy Farrell, said in the aftermath.

There were undoubtedly a few moments of costly inaccuracy. Conor Murray’s loss of composure in coughing up a needless penalty in the final quarter, nailed by Jordie Barrett. Johnny Sexton’s errant effort with a penalty of his own before that, as the tension built, and the importance of every score grew exponentially as the clock ticked down.

The concession of a disappointingly soft third try, scored by the New Zealand wing Will Jordan, after a straightforward lineout move via Richie Mo’unga and Aaron Smith, when a yawning gap appeared in Ireland’s defensive line.

After what turned into a lopsided defeat by Farrell’s men in the pool stage, Scotland were criticised for opting