CARDIFF, WALES — Ireland, European champion for the past two years, underlined its status as the Northern Hemisphere’s leading World Cup contender when it beat France 24-9 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday night to top Pool D.
The result secured it a quarterfinal on the same ground next Sunday against Argentina, sidestepping the World Cup holder and favorite New Zealand, which it has never beaten in 110 years of trying. Ireland was clearly superior, but the result may not have been welcome to the New Zealanders.
Subdued so far, the All Blacks must now face the one team that truly spooks them, France, on the same ground at the same stage of the tournament as its famous World Cup loss to it in 2007.