Ireland accused of being arrogant as New Zealand journalist criticises Johnny Sexton ahead of Rugby World Cup clash

A New Zealand rugby journalist has criticised the way Ireland conduct themselves ahead of this weekend's huge Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

Andy Farrell's men face the All Blacks at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday night as they aim to become the first Irish side to advance to the last four of the tournament.

New Zealand writer Gregor Paul believes that Ireland have become increasingly ungracious the more they have won, labelling them "arrogant".

He told Today With Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1: "I'm not sure if there's fear (from New Zealand). I don't know if the All Blacks really do fear as such, but it is unprecedented for the All Blacks to be going into a World Cup knockout game very much as the underdogs.

"I think all the betting agencies have them that way, I'd certainly feel that most New Zealanders would see it that way. Ireland have dominated them really over the last four or five years.

"There's probably not a huge amount of confidence in New Zealand about how this game might turn out, but there's also that feeling that there's a performance in the All Blacks somewhere at this tournament and it really has to be this weekend, otherwise they're going back to New Zealand."

When asked about calling Ireland arrogant, he added: "I think there needs to be a little bit of self-awareness when you're the world number one team.

"When you've been there for awhile, people start to pick up and watch and you get more analysed when you're the world number one team.

"The All Blacks had that for decades, everyone has a view about them, but I don't think I would be telling people anything that they couldn't possibly be aware of...

"The Irish captain's a lovely guy, he's fantastic Johnny Sexton, brilliant player, love the way he plays, love his passion, love his commitment, but he does a way about him of the way he talks to referees, the way he tries to get decisions to go his way.

"When he was out in New Zealand last year, he had a habit of speaking his mind to some of the All Blacks at times when they didn't really appreciate it.

"He had a bit of an exchange with Dane Coles on the touchline and of course Peter O'Mahony had his famous sledge of Sam Cane, I won't repeat on air, it was very funny, but it's been remembered by people in New Zealand about what was said, how these guys conducted themselves and I think that's what we're seeing at the moment.

"We're seeing a couple of characters in that Irish team that are extremely passionate about how they play and how they perform, but probably it's a different style to what New Zealanders are used to from their own All Blacks in terms of how you conduct yourself."