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David Kirk's 'embarrassing' All Blacks verdict and his RWC 2023 tip
David Kirk has branded last weekend’s record defeat for the All Blacks as embarrassing – but he can still see them winning Rugby World Cup 2023 even though he doesn’t see them as favourites.
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New Zealand stopped off in London en route to the finals in France only to suffer a painful 7-35 Twickenham hammering against the Springboks.
That result has led to Kirk – the 1987 All Blacks World Cup winning captain – reappraising his thoughts on South Africa heading into the tournament, believing they are now a big threat to retain the title they won in Japan in 2019.
As for New Zealand, who open their campaign on September 8 versus France in Paris, as hurtful as he believes the loss in England to the Boks was, Kirk hasn’t lost all belief that Ian Foster’s side can still emerge as champions when the final is held in Paris on October 28.
Asked by rugbyworldcup.com for his thoughts on the five-tries-to-one hammering at English rugby HQ, Kirk replied: “There is no way the All Blacks are going to play that badly again.
“It was embarrassing and no one likes to be embarrassed and no one likes to know they have let the team down badly. There are no excuses and they won’t be looking for excuses, they will just be angry with themselves and know that they will have to do better.
“What I think it has made clear – to them and to other people – you have to be able to play in with a level of physical presence and intensity and accuracy, particularly in the forwards, for a long period of time. You have to keep going back to the well.
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“The All Blacks took the Springboks apart in the first 20 minutes of the Rugby Championship game at Eden Park. They smashed them in the forwards, dominated them in the set-piece and 35 minutes into the game, it was 20-3, and they ended up winning 35-17.
“I remember we were absolutely mauled by the French in the final Test in Nantes, and we hadn’t forgotten that. Another level of physical intensity was required and these All Blacks will have learned that.”
What is his hunch regarding who is going to be crowned Rugby World Cup 2023 champions? “Prior to the South Africa game, I would have dropped them [the Springboks] out of the top three and said Ireland or France or the All Blacks. That result changes things a bit but they will have to play like that more than once.
“The All Blacks can win, and I’d like to see them win, but I don’t think they should be considered the favourites to win. For me, the favourites are France and Ireland and, all things being equal, with both teams playing to the best of their ability and with France at home, France can win.
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“They have contributed a lot to World Cups over the years and it would be nice to see them get some recognition as a world champion.”
- Click here to read the full David Kirk interview by Jon Newcombe on rugbyworldcup.com
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
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