Irish fans were on tenterhooks today, tuning in to see the boys in green take on the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Manager Joe Schmidt put forward an experienced team but going up against defending world champions New Zealand, things were never going to come easily to us.
Starting off with a magical pre-match moment, when fans drowned out the sound of the haka with The Fields of Athenry, hoping to spur Ireland on to victory.
But even a heartwarming singsong could do nothing to improve matters for us as the All Blacks wasted little time in beginning a rout which finished 46-14.
A pair of late tries for Ireland proved to be no more than consolation on a day when two significant figures in Irish rugby bowed out.
Head coach, Schmidt, oversaw his last game while playing his last match for Ireland, captain Rory Best was understandably overwhelmed with emotions after the final whistle.
Pure emotion from @IrishRugby's Rory Best
What a warrior he has been 💪👏
Hear his reaction to the Quarter Final defeat #RWC2019 #NZLvIRE #RWCTokyo pic.twitter.com/v1WQBlqfma
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 19, 2019
Amazing moment as Rory Best brings his kids onto the pitch after his last match in an @irishrugby shirt.
A legend of the game, who gave it all for the jersey.
Thanks for the memories Rory 🙌 pic.twitter.com/1rKuLdOPkM
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 19, 2019
And though we were certainly hoping for a different outcome, as Rory himself said: “you have to give enormous credit to the All Blacks, they were fantastic”.
An absolute warrior on and off the pitch, he’ll be sadly missed.
