A dejected Rieko Ioane of New Zealand after losing the final. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa FInal match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Saturday 29 October 2023. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks are hurting after a red card to captain Sam Cane and some missed opportunities left them agonisingly short of World Cup glory.
The three times champions fell to a one point defeat to South Africa in yesterday's final at Stade de France as the Springboks claimed a 12-11 victory to claim a record fourth title.
The result was devastating for New Zealand and their outgoing coach Ian Foster.
"We're all gutted. We so desperately wanted to win this. But I'm probably equally proud. I'd like to think we contributed massively to a pretty special final with a bit of drama and two teams that put everything on the line," Foster said.
New Zealand All Blacks coach Ian Foster. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The biggest moment of drama came in the first half when All Blacks captain Sam Cane was sin binned for a dangerous tackle and making contact with a Springbok player's head, with the yellow card then upgraded to red.
With their skipper sent off the All Blacks were forced to play the majority of the match with 14 men.
Cane said the incident will haunt him for the rest of his life.
"Anything around the head has ramifications and I'm not here to whether it was the right or wrong call. What happened can't be changed and it's something unfortunately that I'm going to have to live with forever," Cane said.
The Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was sin binned for a similar incident in the second half on All Blacks loosie Ardie Savea, but his card remained a yellow.
A dejected Sam Cane (captain) of New Zealand after a red card. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa FInal match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Saturday 29 October 2023. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Foster felt the refereeing was inconsistent.
"In Sam's case there was an attempt to wrap and there didn't seem to be a lot of force in the contact. The hit on Ardie had a lot of force going into that contact and had a direct contact on the head. So the game's got a few issues to sort out," Foster said.
Despite Cane's sending off the All Blacks fought their way back into the game, cutting the Springboks advantage to just one point with a try to Beauden Barrett.
However they missed several chances to take the lead and midfielder Rieko Ioane insists it wasn't their captain's red card that lost them the match.
"That game wasn't won or lost with Sammy's red card. We definitely had our moments out there and if we were to capitalise on a better day then we might have got a better flip of the coin," Ioane said.
Dejected Rieko Ioane of New Zealand and Mark Telea of New Zealand after losing the final. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa FInal match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Saturday 29 October 2023. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Prop Tyrel Lomax agrees and believes the defeat will motivate the players who are staying in New Zealand.
"We had a lot of opportunities to try and win that game. We didn't get the win and this will hurt for a while but luckily we've got a lot of boys who this was their first World Cup, a lot of young boys and I think this is going to drive us," Lomax said.
However, there's little consolation for the many veterans who have now played their last game for the All Blacks, such as Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Dane Coles, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
Forwards coach Jason Ryan was almost in tears following the match as he struggled to hide his disappointment for the departing players.
"A lot of these All Blacks have been immortals you know. Sammy Whitelock, Colesy and Guzz (Retallick) and a few others and they won't get to pull the jersey on again and just seeing them in the shed...it's a tough one for me because I know how much they care," Ryan said.
Foster's tenure is also now over and the players were gutted not to be able to send him off as a winner.
Ioane said their coach deserved plenty of credit for getting the All Blacks as close as they did to a World Cup title.
Siya Kolisi (captain) of South Africa lifts the Rugby World Cup Trophy to celebrate winning the final. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa FInal match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Saturday 29 October 2023. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
"For him to lead us and produce the footy that we were able to produce is a credit to him. Everyone was quick to get on him when things were bad but this playing group has huge praise for Fozzie.
"New Zealanders should be proud of the way that Sammy and Foz have led this team and they've galvanised the boys and we're proud of them," Ioane said.
While it was an agony for the All Blacks it was ecstasy for South Africa and captain Siya Kolisi said it was difficult to measure how much it will mean to the rainbow nation.
"There's not a lot of things going right in our country and we have the privilege of being able to do what we love and being able to inspire people from different walks of life. Not just rugby people or sports people but just people in life. What brings us together is our country," Kolisi said.
With a message like that, it will be hard for the All Blacks not to be happy for the Springboks, even if the pain of defeat feels insurmountable.
Rugby fans at the All Blacks v South Africa Rugby World Cup final match at Stade de France. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga