New Zealand Media Reacts To South Africa Loss
Have to feel for him after a superb tournament, but the punishment for direct contact to the head was warranted by the letter of the lawWill Jordan - 4 - He’s been magical all tournament, but his wizardry ran out in the decider. Couldn’t get going as the staunch Springboks defence held the dashing winger to just 13 running metres in the contest.
13 October 2023; Will Jordan during a New Zealand captain's run at INSEP in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
We are a nation of bad losers.
New Zealand Rugby got it wrong. Foster’s record is terrible by All Blacks standards.There’s a lot of history rewriting going on involving the embellishment of Foster’s record.Yet his improved image as a coach has been helped by soft games in this World Cup tournament.In significant results at this tournament, his team beat Ireland and lost to France and South Africa. What is so great about that?These All Blacks have reached no memorable heights during his reign, created no successful new way of playing, and have sunk to unprecedented lows.
Where is the consistency here? If they send off Sam Cane for contact to the head, then you certainly do the same for the much worse contact to the head tackle by Siya Kolisi. Fair is Fair! World cup won by ref Barnes and TMO! 55 minutes 14vs15 because of these terrible decisions. pic.twitter.com/Uww85STkzH
— Celtic Soul 🏴🇳🇿🇮🇪🇬🇧 (@Braveheart_NZ) October 29, 2023
South Africa won it fair and square.Secondly: South Africa are better at not playing rugby than the All Blacks are at playing rugby. Thirdly: the sport of rugby must lift itself out of this miserable morass of complicated rules which lead to a band of officials becoming the key influence, not the players or the actual play.
More Level Headed Takes From New Zealand Media
"It’s not just the end of an era for Foster, who came within a whisker of guiding the All Blacks to a record fourth World Cup crown," said Robert van Royen for Stuff.
"An almost full clean out looms. Yes, forwards coach Jason Ryan will remain under incoming coach Scott Robertson, as will strength and conditioning coach Nic Gill, but the majority of Foster’s support staff will follow him out the door.
"Then there’s the exit of a host of players, most notably the most capped player in All Blacks history, Whitelock (153 tests)."
READ HERE: New Zealand Fans Won't Like Brian O'Driscoll's Opinion On Officiating In Rugby World Cup Final
The less reactionary Jamie Wall had more level headed takes on the game, and outlined some of its comparisons with the 1995 final classic between the two sides.
"Absolutely they were the toughest attempts the two men could make - Mo'unga's conversion from hard on the touchline and Barrett's penalty about 50 metres on an angle - but that's where crunch games are won and lost. Just ask the Springboks because that's how they even made the final in the first place.
"It was a brave effort by the All Blacks, that can't be denied. It will go into the history books as a modern day sequel to the epic 1995 final.
"The final score was only separated by one point - but that's the difference between ultimate glory and coming home with nothing."
SEE ALSO: Intriguing Theory Suggests That Wayne Barnes Did Not Apologise Over RWC Final Decision
