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All Blacks prepare to farewell ‘special’ legends after World Cup final
For the likes of Aaron Smith, Dane Coles and Sam Whitelock, this is it. There is no tomorrow in the black jersey for these rugby icons after New Zealand’s clash with South Africa in the World Cup final.
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Some genuine legends are looking to end their Test careers on top of the world in Saturday night’s decider at Stade de France. It’ll either be a fairytale finish or their time as All Blacks will end heartbreak.
The All Blacks secured their spot in the sport’s biggest Test with a commanding 44-6 win over Los Pumas in Saint-Denis last week. New Zealand were dominant, but the job is not done yet.
With Rugby World Cup glory potentially just 80 minutes away, the All Blacks have an opportunity to etch their names into history by becoming the first team to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup four times.
While the All Blacks are clearly not lacking in motivation, assistant coach Jason Ryan revealed the “special part of our week” that is driving this team.
“We’ve talked about farewells. We’ve talked this week about being the best that we can,” Ryan told reporters on Tuesday.
“We had quite a nice night last night as a team and some of our experienced leaders spoke about what it’s been to be an All Black and their previous experiences in World Cups, as well as some of the younger boys.
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“That’s been a special part of our week and it was nice last night listening to some of those guys. Anyone that has played 100 plus Tests, you’ve got some stories haven’t you.”
The All Blacks’ rivalry with the world champion Springboks doesn’t need an introduction. The ferocious nature of this matchup speaks for itself.
It’s quite possibly the greatest international rivalry in the sport. “I just don’t think that there’s that kind of rivalry between two teams that is so intense for 80 minutes and yet so connected afterwards,” former South Africa skipper John Smit said on NZR+.
The Springboks are the defending World Cup winners, and they’re looking to become just the second team to go back-to-back – repeating the feat first achieved by the All Blacks in 2015.
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But putting the history of yesteryear aside, this year alone has been a rollercoaster. The All Blacks were clinical in a 35-20 win during The Rugby Championship in Auckland, but the Boks had the last laugh as they handed their rivals a record 35-7 defeat in London two months ago.
“The history is a big part of it. You build that up probably more towards the end of the week. We’ve got to make sure we get our game right first and foremost. We believe we have got a clear plan, then as we get closer to the game, the old mental side of the weeks kicks in,” Ryan added.
“We talked a bit about legacy last week. But it’s no secret it’s been a massive tradition. It’s awesome. You love going to South Africa, being part of the All Blacks and getting into some braai’s (BBQs).
“It’s just a special place to tour and they bring a special part of their game that makes it just a great rivalry. To be doing it in a World Cup final, that’s when you want to be playing, that’s when you want to be coaching. All you want to do is set yourself up for a gold medal.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Just came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
4 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
4 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
4 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
4 Go to commentsWhat 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.
3 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!
3 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?
228 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.
4 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.
88 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
228 Go to comments