New Zealand coach Steve Hansen insisted his side remember their defeats much more than their victories after the blew Ireland away to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Aaron Smith scored two tries as the ruthless All Blacks took a step closer to a third-straight World Cup title with a 46-14 quarter-final victory over Ireland.

Beauden Barrett, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, George Bridge and Jordie Barrett all crossed the line as the All Blacks advanced to the semi-finals against England in Yokohama next Saturday.

A disappointing Ireland side were left to count the cost of a seventh quarter-final defeat in nine World Cup tournaments, a Robbie Henshaw score and a penalty try offered scant consolation.

Asked whether his side were motivated to beat Ireland given past defeats to them, Hansen said: “We got reminded and reminded and reminded and reminded that we had lost (recently) to Ireland.

“And All Black teams don’t need to be reminded that they have lost two games to Ireland out of 38. They know that and they don’t forget it.

“We remember our losses way more than we remember the wins. And so it is banked. It is not something that you go and talk about. It is just that everyone knows it.”