"There was so much chat about the All Blacks' arrogance from the Irish media in the lead-up to this Rugby World Cup, are the Irish bad losers from what we've seen in the press over the last 48 hours and from some of the players as well in the comments that they've come out with?" was the question from host Kirstie Stanaway to the panel on Sky Sport New Zealand show The Breakdown.
"Yes," was the answer from 1987 All Blacks Rugby World Cup winner John Kirwan.
"Probably from November, I noticed a shift in humility when [Jeff Wilson and I] were in Ireland together. I felt that shift.
"The thing we all spoke about off air during the week when we were together was how we're quiet. We didn't say anything and Ireland were doing all the talking.
"I think they just got a little bit ahead of themselves, as fans, which you do. I'm pretty sure the All Blacks have been there at times too. This is a pretty humbling experience [for Ireland]."
14 October 2023; Jonathan Sexton of Ireland after his side's defeat in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between the Ireland rugby team and the New Zealand rugby team at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Another former All Black, Jeff Wilson, added: "Sometimes, when you start talking yourself up, it's because you have doubts.
"I think deep down they had some doubts about whether they could win. You start trying to talk yourself in to being that team, being that good. You want to keep believing but you're talking out loud when you actually haven't gone out and proven it.
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"The All Blacks have proven over time that in big moments, we can stand up. You got a sense that maybe Ireland, and particularly their fans, were maybe a little bit overconfident going into the game."
Kirwan also speculated that winning 17 consecutive games coming into the quarter-final may have given Ireland a sense of hubris.
14 October 2023; Richie Mo'unga of New Zealand evades the tackle of Ireland's Josh van der Flier during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between the Ireland rugby team and the New Zealand rugby team at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"Winning [17] on the trot coming into a World Cup [quarter-final] was not what you need to do," said Kirwan.
"Remember we lost [to Australia] in Perth before [the] 2015 [Rugby World Cup]. It just makes you sit back and go 'Actually, we're not that good'.
"Winning [17-in-a-row] does that mean that you kick for the corner instead of taking the three points? You lose a few games and you just get that resilience."
14 October 2023; Ireland rugby supporters react during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Wilson said that this group of Ireland players have "missed their opportunity".
"The window has closed on this group," he said.
"I don't see, without Jonathan Sexton, Peter O'Mahony is another who's probably not going to get there, Bundee Aki, who has been their standout performer...
"They will be competitive going forward, but this was the time, their best chance ever to not just go beyond a quarter-final but go on and win it. That now has closed.
"I looked at that squad through that winning run and it was pretty much the same guys, the same team playing over and over and over again.
"I'd like to think that we won the last 20 minutes of the test match, when we needed to win, that's the 20 minutes that we won. Yes, we started fast and then we faced adversity but then we won the last 20.
"That's what Ireland have to think about, that this test match was ultimately won and lost in the last 20 minutes."
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