The moments before the match provided something special. The moments after the whistle was blown are probably not worth talking about right now.
When it comes to pre-match rituals, there is nothing quite like the iconic New Zealand haka.
Typically, the ceremonial dance results in the opposition being beaten before the whistle is even blown but sometimes, the opposite side simply refuses to be intimidated.
If there was any sense of nervousness in the Irish ranks while the All Blacks roared and slapped their thighs, it likely eased when the New Zealand shouts were drowned out by one of the most deafening renditions of The Fields of Athenry that has ever been belted out.
In the moments ahead of kick-off in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against the defending world champions in Tokyo, the travelling Irish support made their presence felt and guaranteed goosebumps with a stunning and thunderous chorus of the spine-tingling ballad.
The Fields of Athenry drowns out the Haka at the Tokyo Stadium 🍀#RWC2019 #NZLvIRE pic.twitter.com/6qU8ETEf0q
— eir Sport (@eirSport) October 19, 2019
At the time of writing (half-time of the match), Ireland trail the rampant All Blacks by a scoreline of 22-0 and will have it all to do in a crucial 40 minutes of rugby, which could be Joe Schmidt’s final half as Ireland head coach unless he can mastermind a very unlikely comeback after the break.
A green wall watches the Haka. #NZLvIRE#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/zeOtrzFdEL
— eir Sport (@eirSport) October 19, 2019
Whatever happens in the second half, the Irish fans continue to do the country proud with their matchless support which earned plenty of praise back home.
Come on Ireland. Fields of Athenry drowning out the Haka. Amazing. #IREvNZL
— Richy Sheehy (@RichySheehy) October 19, 2019
Ireland fans drowning out the Haka by belting out athenry pic.twitter.com/NzfmVacnOi
— lennon (@sorcylen) October 19, 2019
Fields Of Athenry 1 The Haka 0
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) October 19, 2019
Oh my god!!! The hairs are standing up on the back of my neck watching New Zealand do the haka with the Fields of Athenry drowning them out 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪💪🏽💪🏽 COME ON IRELAND #IREvNZL
— Ann Marie (@AnnMarieGuinan) October 19, 2019
Fields of Athenry ringing out of the Haka, chills up my spine
— Tomás Keating (@MossBoxx) October 19, 2019
Fuckin hell!! NZ performing the Haka and what sounded like a full stadium singing the fields of Athenry!! Goosebumps #RugbyWorldCup cmon Ireland 🇮🇪
— BoyMolloy (@Dboymolloy) October 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/TreabhairC/status/1185500260384288769
