Ireland's 40-29 victory over New Zealand in Chicago was a monumental win but it also provided a blueprint for the All Blacks. 

The Irish team shot out of the blocks at Soldier Field and were up 25-8 at the end of the first half.

While New Zealand did come back into the game in the second half, they could not bridge the sizeable lead that Ireland had built.

As the All Blacks went into the quarter-final on Saturday, they were acutely aware that they could not let Ireland get off to a similar start.

As New Zealand Herald journalist Gregor Paul said, Chicago was on their mind. "I think they always knew that to play Ireland effectively, like when they played them in Chicago you have to keep the score down.

"Ireland were miles ahead at one point and they are aware that if you let Ireland get ahead they are a very suffocating team.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Big threat 

"They don't give you the ball, they hold onto it and they make life very difficult for you if they control the scoreboard," he said.

Bearing this in mind, New Zealand knew they had to start like a house on fire themselves in the quarter-final.

"I think they worked out that the best chance to kill Ireland's big threat was hitting them hard early and turning up with the right attitude.

"They had to really blitz Ireland from minute one and take them on and I think we saw that.

"They knew the importance of getting that early lead and that was a very deliberate play on New Zealand's part to be so focused on those opening twenty minutes," Paul said.

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