NZ coach Hansen praises Ireland's retiring Best and Schmidt after World Cup win

VIDEO SHOWS: REACTION FROM IRELAND COACH, JOE SCHMIDT, AND NEW ZEALAND COACH, STEVE HANSEN, AFTER THEIR RUGBY WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL IN TOKYO

RESENDING WITH SCRIPT

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 19, 2019) (IMG/RUGBY WORLD CUP LIMITED - SEE RESTRICTIONS BEFORE USE)

1. NEW ZEALAND COACH, STEVE HANSEN (CENTRE), NEW ZEALAND ASSISTANT COACH, IAN FOSTER (LEFT) AND NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN, KIERAN READ (RIGHT) AT POST MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND COACH, STEVE HANSEN, SAYING: (CONTINUOUS WITH PREVIOUS AND NEXT SHOTS)

"Firstly, before we talk too much about the game, I'd really like to take the opportunity on behalf of myself and the All Blacks to congratulate two men in the opposition - Rory Best and Joe Schmidt. Both had magnificent careers in their respective roles for Ireland that made a difference in their time, and it doesn't matter what team you play for, if you can make a difference while you're there then you've done your job. So both those guys, I understand, are finishing up and we'd like to sort of acknowledge them publicly for what a wonderful job they've done. The next thing I'd like to acknowledge probably is as the big fella beside me here. I think he's come back from a back injury and copped a lot of flak from people about his form, but as his injuries got better and better so has his play. But it's not only that, he's led the team really, really well and I think he's even gone to a higher level at the World Cup. So I'd like to congratulate you, Reado."

3. FOSTER, HANSEN AND READ

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN, KIERAN READ, SAYING: (INCLUDES MULTIPLE ANGLES)

"You know, if Coach is saying that, it's a good thing, I guess. But I reckon in a couple weeks time, it'd be better for him to say it. But, look, I think, for us our first half probably set up the game, didn't it?. For us, we could put plenty of pressure on the Irish. We knew they were a strong forward-orientated team who could attack as well. I think we nullified what they could bring early through our discipline and able to score some tries, which gave us the opportunity to get in front."

5. FOSTER, HANSEN AND READ LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE

6. WHITE FLASH

7. IRELAND COACH, JOE SCHMIDT (RIGHT) AND IRELAND CAPTAIN, RORY BEST (CENTRE) ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND COACH, JOE SCHMIDT, SAYING:

"I don't really have an excuse for it or a reason for it. On the night, you can't afford to give the All Blacks access points like we did. They're good enough to win games without us inviting them in, and it was incredibly disappointing. I think we're a little bit flat on the back of having a few niggles during the week, and we weren't quite sure what the team would be until Thursday, and I felt that we needed to get off to a good start to really build a bit of confidence and when that didn't happen, I always felt that we'd be a bit vulnerable."

9. BEST AND SCHMIDT

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND COACH, JOE SCHMIDT, SAYING:

(ON HIS FEELINGS OF RETIRING HAVING FAILED TO MAKE SEMI-FINALS IN LAST TWO WORLD CUP)

"Well, you know, I think the last one (World Cup)... you tend to carry scars a lot more than your successes, and so those scars are deep. And that's, you know, that's why I am a little bit broken by it, but I think when I get some distance to reflect, I think it's 75, maybe 75-odd test matches and we've won 75 percent of them. As I said, there's been some incredibly, incredibly good days and I don't think they get washed away by two defeats. And days where, you know, we we're incredibly disappointed. You know, I felt we we had good reason four years ago where we lost our leadership prior to the quarter-final. But, you know, we just we just met a team who I think are number one in the world for a reason. And, you know, I think if you're not on the money, as I said, you're going to be really disappointed, and I am."

11. BEST AND SCHMIDT

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND CAPTAIN, RORY BEST, SAYING:

"It has been a little bit of a rollercoaster of emotion, pressure, everything. And I think what's been been really good is the way that this group has stuck together and, honestly, the way we prepared this week, we went into this game fully expecting to win. You don't always get that, but at least we had that and it didn't happen for us tonight. But I think this World Cup in Japan has had a lot of things. It's had upsets, it's had weather, it's had some fantastic performances, and I think credit has to go to Japanese rugby and world rugby for having, I suppose, the balls to bring it here. And, you know, I think it's been a fantastic tournament and we're unbelievably upset to be leaving it - and I'm unbelievably upset with the thought that I'll never put on a green jersey again except to go and support."

13. BEST AND SCHMIDT LEAVING, REPORTERS APPLAUDING THEM

STORY: New Zealand coach Steve Hansen heaped praise on Ireland counterpart Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best following the All Blacks' comprehensive 46-14 victory in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday (October 19).

Speaking after the match in Tokyo, Hansen congratulated the two men for having a positive impact on Irish rugby during their tenures with the national side.

The defeat to the All Blacks was the swansong for both Best and New Zealand-born Schmidt, who both announced their retirements prior to the World Cup.

Hansen also acknowledged his own captain, Kieran Read, who led New Zealand is a dominating display after recovering from a series of injuries and questions over his form.

Schmidt said he didn't have an excuse for his team's poor performance, which had echoes of the shock 43-20 loss to Argentina at the same state of the 2015 World Cup.

"You tend to carry scars a lot more than your successes, and so those scars are deep. And that's why I am a little bit broken by it," Schmidt admitted.

Best also said he was feeling quite emotional after the defeat, saying the World Cup in Japan had been a "rollercoaster of emotion and pressure."

"It's been a fantastic tournament and we're unbelievably upset to be leaving it - and I'm unbelievably upset with the thought that I'll never put on a green jersey again except to go and support," Best said.

(Production: Ben Dangerfield)