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We've looked at Ireland's World Cup exits, but how about their recent success over the All Blacks.

Let's keep things positive here, guys!

Once upon a time, when you stepped out against New Zealand and the Haka took place, there was almost a feeling that a team would be down on the scoreboard before a ball was kicked.

Ireland knew that feeling more than most, and despite coming agonisingly close to taking that breakthrough win in 2013 before Ryan Crotty's last-gasp try, overcoming New Zealand was a mountain they could never scale.

Something felt different in November 2016 when a historic match was set to take place at Soldier Field in Chicago - on the same weekend the Cubs won Baseball's World Series.

From the start, the Irish effort appeared to be fuelled by the memory of former international and Munster head coach Anthony Foley, who had died suddenly the previous month. Prior to kick-off Ireland lined up in the shape of a number eight, the jersey worn with distinction by Foley for many years, while their opponents performed their traditional pre-match Haka.

Tries from Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander and Conor Murray helped Joe Schmidt's side to a 25-8 half-time lead, then Simon Zebo scored his side's fourth try in the corner.

The world champions fought back to move to within four points but Robbie Henshaw's late score ensured the victory. It took 111 years, but Ireland had finally got the job done.

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Ireland are excited to face World Cup "standard bearers" New Zealand and come up against a familiar face in Joe Schmidt, says Simon Easterby.

The sides will renew their rivalry in a highly-anticipated quarter-final at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Former Ireland head coach Schmidt is the All Blacks attack coach, having joined the team's set-up in late 2021.

"Joe's influence certainly has increased over the past 12 months," said Ireland assistant coach Easterby.

"But we've got to be excited about playing the standard bearers of World Cup rugby.

"New Zealand have always turned up for World Cups and we've seen with the way they've dealt with a little bit of adversity in the pre-season game against South Africa and the game against France could've gone either way."

Schmidt led Ireland for six years and masterminded two Test wins over the All Blacks, in 2016 and 2018.

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In 139 years, just over 1,200 men have worn the shirt of one of rugby's most fabled and dominant teams - the All Blacks.

Their practices and cultures have become a byword for success, not just in sport, but in the wider world.

They are outstanding. But when you first join that hallowed club, the last thing you want to do is stand out.

"On my first day I was excited, but also terrified," says Richard Kahui, remembering his arrival in camp as a 23-year-old in 2008.

"I didn't want to be a disappointment - not be late to a meeting, or drop a ball in training.

"The first thing you do is meet the team manager, get your room key and all the new kit. That is as exciting as Christmas."

Read more on the making of an All Black here.

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High hopes before a tournament to be dashed in the last eight? We've been here before.

Ireland went into the 2019 World Cup with high expectations, but a Pool stage defeat by Japan put Joe Schmidt’s side on the back foot and then New Zealand hammered the nail in the Irish coffin.

The mighty All Blacks ran in seven tries to hand Ireland their heaviest World Cup defeat.

Time for revenge this evening?

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Hopes were again high heading into the tournament, but it wasn't long before injuries took their tole and Argentina stormed into the semi-finals.

Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton, Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne were all absent, and Los Pumas took full advantage to lead 17-0 inside 13 minutes.

Ireland did mount a fightback but the mountain was too high to climb and the South Americans claimed a famous victory in Cardiff.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Stade de France

And there's a massive roar for Johnny Sexton as the Ireland captain comes out for his warm-up.

He jogs around the posts and soaks up the applause from the fans who hope tonight isn't the last time we see him in green.

It's not even half-full in here yet and that was loud.

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Ireland were knocked out in the pool stages in France in 2007, but, two years after their historic Grand Slam success in 2009, there were high hopes that form could be replicated in the World Cup in New Zealand.

Things were tight early in the second half as Keith Earls crossed for Ireland and Ronan O'Gara brought Declan Kidney's side level.

However, from there it was one-way traffic and Mike Phillips and Jonathan Davies secured a famous win for the Welsh.

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Two defeats by Australia, two by France. This was becoming a familiar tale.

After losing a quarter-final play-off in 1999, Ireland were back in the last eight in Australia.

Things didn't really go to plan for Eddie O'Sullivan's side, who were on the back foot from the early stages and were dumped out despite tries from Kevin Maggs and Brian O'Driscoll's double.

It was also the final match for the legendary Keith Wood, whose face summed everything up at full-time.

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Ireland wing Mack Hansen is "all good" after he wore heavy strapping on his calf during the captain's run at Stade de France before Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

Hansen was forced off in last week's Pool B win over Scotland.

Despite missing some training earlier this week, he was named to start by head coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday.

"Yeah, everybody's fit, Mack looking sprightly as ever, so he's gone well," said backs coach Mike Catt.

When asked about the strapping on Hansen's calf, Catt said: "He's all good to run freely."

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After two exits at the hands of Australia, it wasn't third time lucky for Ireland when they came up against the French.

Ireland would get used to France having the upper hand on the world stage and, being honest, this was one of the French’s most dominant victories.

Philippe Saint-Andre, who later went on to be France's head coach, and Emile Ntamack, father of current fly-half Romain, touched down in Durban.

Twenty-six points from the boot of Thierry Lacroix finished things off.

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Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson knows a thing or two about winning World Cups and he's given his prediction on tonight's game...

New Zealand are a very dangerous beast. They have recovered from their opening-day defeat by France by scoring a total of 36 tries in their wins over Namibia, Uruguay and Italy and showing their free-flowing, intelligent rugby.

But in a top-end Test match, against an Ireland side who have not put a foot wrong in the tournament, you need more. You need to be able to back up those moments of genius with relentless physicality and faultless consistency and I just don't think the All Blacks have that gear in them.

Scotland are a very good team. They came into Saturday night's match motivated. They had talked up the possibility of beating Ireland. But, they couldn't lay a glove on them. Ireland's dominance started in the front row with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, but their whole forward pack was massive. Captain Peter O'Mahony was a totem for them, as he is game after game. Garry Ringrose in the centres was imperious as well.

And Ireland have a 16th man, with the fans at the Stade de France. They beat South Africa there a fortnight ago, they beat Scotland there on Saturday and they will play New Zealand there at the weekend. Paris has become a home from home with thousands of supporters in the stands and the streets. The team feed off the fans, the fans feed off the team and the connection feels really personal between the two.

Ireland have been too good for too long and have too much momentum for the All Blacks.

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This one stings more than most. With the tables turned and Ireland playing in front of a vocal home crowd, they nearly pulled off an almighty win and revenge over Australia.

The Wallabies were heavy favourites and were leading with five minutes to play.

Then, there was pandemonium when flanker Gordon Hamilton crossed and Ralph Keyes added the conversion to give Ireland a slender lead.

However, there was drama to come as Michael Lynagh would break Irish hearts to score in the dying moments.

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Not to open up too many old wounds, but let's take a look at Ireland's previous (unsuccessful) visits to the last eight.

Ireland faced Australia on their home turf in the inaugural World Cup in 1987, and the Wallabies came out on top.

The Wallabies raced into a 24-0 lead and, although tries by Hugo MacNeill and Michael Kiernan gave brief hope, Ireland were left with too much to do and exited in the last eight.

Little did they know it would be the first quarter-final heartbreak of many.

Southern hemisphere 1-0 Northern hemisphere.

Who will join Argentina in the semi-finals?

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Well, who saw this one coming?!

Argentina ended Wales' World Cup journey in controversial fashion during an enthralling quarter-final in Marseille.

Wales started brightly with a 10-point lead before Argentina responded with four Emiliano Boffelli penalties.

Tomos Williams restored Wales' lead with a brilliant effort before two late tries from Joel Sclavi and Nicolas Sanchez sealed the win.

The Pumas face Ireland or New Zealand in the semi-final in Paris next Friday.

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Here's more from Tommy Bowe on tonight's game...

In Joe Schmidt, the All Blacks have the best man to plot an Irish downfall in Paris. With Schmidt, New Zealand have clearly improved. They have been talking themselves up this week but I don't think it's just bluster. They have been building impressively in this tournament.

Schmidt's fingerprints are all over this All Blacks side. His attention to detail is second to none and he will be poring over every possible scenario in order to outwit his former assistant Farrell on Saturday.

Farrell has benefited from the foundations Schmidt built. There is no doubt about that, but Farrell has managed to keep in place a lot of Schmidt's fundamental principles while building a sense of trust and enjoyment within the camp. That has been a key theme of the Farrell era.

Schmidt is still early enough in his journey with the All Blacks and you can see they are not quite where Ireland were at their peak under him, but they are still a lot better than what we saw in the Test series last summer.

In saying that, I am confident that Ireland can get the job done and finally give the nation a World Cup semi-final to look forward to.

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Tommy Bowe knows a thing or two about success in an Irish jersey and the former Ulster wing is writing a column for BBC Sport during the Rugby World Cup.

Ireland have taken us on a memorable journey over the past four years, but it has all been building to this point. The big one. Another World Cup quarter-final against the mighty All Blacks.

A lot about this weekend will be so familiar to Ireland. It's World Cup knockout rugby again. It's New Zealand again. It's the Stade de France - Ireland's home away from home in recent weeks - again.

What we don't want is a familiar ending. Ireland have never got the job done in a World Cup quarter-final. Losing quarter-finals isn't much fun, and whether the Irish players want to admit it or not, the weight of history is definitely a factor this weekend.

But this feels like Ireland's greatest opportunity.

Why? Because this Ireland team are different. Unlike Irish teams in the past, they don't rely on passion and emotion.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Stade de France

For a few moments, right at the end of Ireland's final media engagement before Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand, Caelan Doris spoke from the heart.

Doris and Dan Sheehan had been asked what it means to them and their families to be preparing for the biggest game of their lives.

As Sheehan spoke of his pride in bringing joy to the Irish people back home, the significance of what this Ireland team may achieve seemed to hit home with Doris.

"I think in these big weeks, you draw on some of the emotion and the pride," said Ireland's ironman Doris, who has been involved in every match they have played this year.

"Talking to a few friends back home in Mayo and seeing how they are behind us and how so many people in the country are behind us.

"You can feel that over here, you can definitely get a sense of it. That is a motivation for us, to continue to inspire them and do them proud and knowing that so many of them are coming over.

"Sometimes you can almost get too emotional but then you bring yourself back into process-focused, detail-focused, going through how we're going to get to the next step. It's a balance of both in these big weeks."

Here's how the teams stack up in their last five meetings...

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The Stade de France, or Stade de Sexton (which I'll be calling it if Ireland win tonight) is looking fine ahead of tonight's quarter-final.

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