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All Blacks duo on ‘difficult’ journey from record loss to World Cup final
When the full-time whistle sounded on a sombre August night at Twickenham two months ago, it was hard to believe what had just happened. South Africa handed the All Blacks a record 35-7 loss just two weeks out from the Rugby World Cup.
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The All Blacks were written off by many ahead of the sport’s showpiece event. Among their critics, former French international Olivier Magne bluntly described the New Zealanders as the “weakest in history.”
New Zealand opened their World Cup campaign with their first-ever pool stage defeat, with hosts France sending the Parisian crowd into a frenzy on an unforgettable night at Stade de France. The All Blacks had lost two on the bounce.
But two months is a long time in Test rugby. The All Blacks have proven their doubters and naysayers wrong time and time again with some trademark performances, including a thrilling 28-24 quarter-final win over Ireland.
After beating Argentina a week later in their semi-final, the All Blacks are potentially 80 minutes away from what was once considered an unlikely World Cup triumph.
Not bad for the “weakest” All Blacks team ever.
“It has been very difficult. It has taken a huge amount of drive to turn it around to get it right,” wing Will Jordan said when asked about the journey from that Twickenham defeat to a World Cup decider.
“It’s a special group here and we have always been committed to being the best team we can be.
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“In 2022 we were a bit astray but we have come out of the fire a bit and I guess the big thing for us now has been the consistency has been found. We have been able to put back-to-back performances together, which is probably what was missing before.
“The challenge for us tomorrow night is to be able to go three big games in a row. It’s been a challenging period but it’s where we want to be now.”
The All Blacks fell behind during a quiet first half against the Boks in August, but things went from bad to worse just before the break.
Scott Barrett was sent off after a second yellow card, and that’s when things got ugly. If it was a boxing fight, All Blacks coaches would’ve been naïve to not throw in the towel.
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But the All Blacks have bounced back. New Zealand have been building steadily throughout this tournament as they continued to fly under the radar, and they’re now primed and ready for a blockbuster decider against their greatest rivals.
It’s not about redemption – World Cup glory awaits the victor.
“It has been some journey. We have been really motivated to fill this black jersey. We have players and coaches who just want to see the potential in this team,” playmaker Richie Mo’unga added.
“We are getting little blocks in our game right. A big part of that is our DNA and what makes this team tick and how we can do this at high quality for 80 minutes.
“The off-field stuff has created that bond on-field too. Through all of that we will look back and smile on what a journey it has been and how exciting it has been. It all comes down to this last game.
“The mindset was nerves and how daunting it can be but we are all excited to put our best foot forward and give it a crack and if we do that we will make ourselves proud.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
2 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
2 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to comments