A dejected All Blacks captain Sam Cane walks past the Rugby World Cup trophy after losing the final to South Africa in Paris. Photo: photosport
The questions were perhaps redundant. What could the shattered All Blacks say after they had left so much on the field in Saturday's 12-11 Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa?
Playing more than half the match a man down, New Zealand were a hair's breadth from snatching the World Cup back from defending champions South Africa, but fell agonisingly short, watching their great rivals move alone at the top of the tree with four titles to their name.
"To come within a whisker of pulling it off... it's heartbreaking," New Zealand's outgoing coach Ian Foster said pitchside at the end of a pulsating and fluctuating clash.
"I'm proud of our guys, to go down to that red card so early and fight our way back and give ourselves a chance is pretty special. I don't think it went wrong in any clear (way), it was a real arm wrestle, both teams had their moments... I'm incredibly proud of the way we fought."
It was a titanic battle between the sport's two heavyweights, and the fight was juddering. Few could have expected New Zealand to come so close when their captain Sam Cane was sent off after half an hour, penalised for a high tackle.
"It's gut-wrenching for him, frustrating for us," Foster said.
New Zealand captain Sam Cane comes off the field during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final between the All Blacks and South Africa at Stade de France. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Gut-wrenching it was, Cane was distraught.
"Extremely gutted," he said, seemingly hollow with disappointment as he stood expressionless on the side of the Stade de France pitch as the Springboks celebrated.#
"First of all that the guys had to play with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes... I thought the courage they showed out here tonight was incredible, the whole team are absolute warriors.
"It's tough. I'd like to say well done to South Africa. Back-to-back (champions), they have been a fantastic team. They have had a heck of a tough road to the final and they have showed time and time again they have shown a way to win."
Photo: ANTONIN THUILLIER
Cane's devastation was plain to see on the giant screen of the Stade de France as the New Zealand captain watched the South African bench run on to the pitch to celebrate the Springboks' record fourth World Cup title.
Cane missed the opening game against hosts France, which the All Blacks lost, and witnessed his team's second defeat of the tournament from the bench after becoming the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final.
The flanker watched New Zealand's brave and sometimes brilliant second half and was left wondering what might have happened if he had not been shown a red card for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel.
Cane, however, did not make it about himself, praising those who were on either side of the field after the All Blacks lost 12-11.
"Obviously extremely gutted and disappointed. First of all that the team had to play the final with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes," he said.
Cane was sin-binned in the 28th minute and waited anxiously as his move was being reviewed by TMO match official Tom Foley, who eventually upgraded his yellow card to red.
Handre Pollard had made it 12-3 for the Springboks but the defending champions did not score a single point afterwards.
"I thought the courage they showed out there tonight was incredible. The whole team are absolute warriors and, look, it's tough," added Cane, only the 11th All Black to be sent off in a rugby test.
"I'd like to say well done to South Africa -- back to back. They've been a fantastic team, they've had a tough road to the final and they showed time and time again they find a way to win."
As rain fell heavily on the Stade de France, Cane stood in a long, black jacket when his South African counterpart Siya Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup, before leaving the pitch with his team mates as clouds of smoke from the fireworks filled the stadium.
- Reuters