New Zealand reminded everyone why their name has already been etched three times on the Rugby World Cup as they beat Ireland 46-14 Saturday to reach the last four of this year's tournament.

In front of 48,656 at Tokyo Stadium (Ajinomoto Stadium), the All Blacks gave a masterclass in attacking and, when they had to, defensive rugby to ensure Ireland's record of never progressing beyond the quarterfinal stage remains as is.

(Aaron Smith of New Zealand)[Getty/Kyodo]

The win sees Steve Hansen's side set up a semifinal date with England next Saturday in Yokohama after Eddie Jones' team beat Australia 40-16 earlier Saturday.

"Both the defense and the attack were good," said Hansen, who gave special praise to his defense and attack coaches, former Toshiba Brave Lupus center Scott McLeod and Ian Foster.

"Stormy has done a wonderful job this year and got them going well (in defense) and Fozzie has got the attack going really, really good, and is coaching probably the best I've ever seen him coach."

With the Kapa o Pango haka drowned out by Irish fans singing "The Fields of Athenry," the stage was set for a gripping encounter.

However, the All Blacks were in a ruthless mood and the Irish, who came into the game knowing they would struggle if forced to play catch-up rugby, became Kiwi cannon fodder.

(Beauden Barrett of New Zealand)[Getty/Kyodo]

In a ferocious battle in which the medics were often the busiest people on the field, New Zealand were a class apart while Ireland disappointed.

It was not the way Ireland captain Rory Best wanted to end his test-match career.

"The All Blacks were fantastic tonight," he said.

"We felt we prepared well all week, we felt we'd a game plan, we felt we'd enough in our armory to beat them but they just started off, came out of the blocks hard at us, put us on the back foot and like good sides do, they never let us get off that again."

"I think they were just really, really clinical."

A Richie Mo'unga penalty in the sixth minute gave the All Blacks an early lead. And with their forwards constantly getting over the gain line, they soon increased it when Aaron Smith scampered over.

A superb backline move from a scrum eventually saw Smith go over for his second in the 20th minute as the two-time defending champions raced out to a 17-0 lead.

(Robbie Henshaw of Ireland)[World Rugby/Getty/Kyodo]

The men in green tried to play themselves into the game but they found no points of weakness in the black wall. And when they gave up yet another turnover in a tackle, Beauden Barrett scored New Zealand's third try in the 32nd minute.

"It wasn't just the 22 points, it was all the ball we gave them as well," rued Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who like Best is bowing out of international rugby.

"We missed touch from penalties for us to get good field position three times, and it meant we were chasing our tail."

Ireland had reached the stage of damage control and their fans who had been in such good voice before the game were now largely silent.

They did briefly come to life just before the break as for the first time in the game their team threatened the New Zealand line, but once again the All Blacks defense was immoveable.

The stats told the tale of the half.

The teams were exactly level in terms of possession and territory but New Zealand had conceded just five turnovers and made four handling errors to 11 and eight, respectively, by Ireland.

The All Blacks had also carried for 214 meters to 93 by the Irish.

"Our first half set up the game," said New Zealand captain Kieran Read. "We nullified what they could bring through our discipline."

The second stanza was a little closer but ultimately no different. Codie Taylor powered over for the All Blacks' fourth try in the 48th minute before Matt Todd added a fifth.

A Robbie Henshaw five-pointer and a penalty try either side of a touchdown from New Zealand's George Bridge made sure Ireland did not become the first team to go scoreless in a World Cup knockout game.

But Jordie Barrett closed out the scoring to rub salt in Ireland's wounds as they went down to their heaviest defeat ever at a World Cup, conceding the most points they have ever shipped along the way.

"We just wanted to play well," said man-of-the-match Beauden Barrett. "We wanted to bring that intent tonight. It's do-or-die footy. We knew the reality was we could have been going home if we didn't bring it tonight."