New Zealand: Rugby World Cup 2023 review
It all ended in the agony of a one-point defeat for New Zealand in their efforts to win a record fourth Rugby World Cup, but once again the All Blacks lit up the game’s showpiece event.
Abiding memory
An unusually unfancied New Zealand dazzled throughout Rugby World Cup 2023, scoring a tournament-high 49 tries (19 more than any other side) and contributing to a dramatic final.
The four-point quarter-final win over the then-No1 side Ireland was a highlight, but ultimately, the image of captain Sam Cane, head in hands after his yellow card in the final was upgraded to red, showed despair his teammates would eventually share.
Try of the tournament
He had eight to choose from, including a superb solo effort to seal his hat-trick against Argentina in the semi-final, but it was Will Jordan’s first against Uruguay during the pool stage that takes the prize.
Highlighting the All Blacks at their best, live-wire utility back Damian McKenzie – a guaranteed starter for most teams – gathered his own delicate chip on the touchline before tipping it back in one-handed for the Jordan to race away and score under the posts.
Quote of the tournament
“It would be good to take some gas out of that bomb [squad], wouldn’t it?”
– New Zealand forwards coach Jason Ryan did not quite get his wish.
Man of the moment
The all-round brilliance of inside-centre Jordie Barrett and the all-action back row play of Ardie Savea ran him close, but it can only be Jordan. In his first World Cup, the 25-year-old wing scored an RWC-record-equalling eight tries to match the feats of all-time greats Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015).
And he did much of his best work when it really mattered too – scoring in the quarter-final against Ireland and a hat-trick in the semi-final versus Argentina.
One for the future
After a hat-trick against Uruguay and a critical try against Ireland, Leicester Fainga’anuku had to make way for the returning Mark Tele’a in the semi-final and final, but at just 24, the Toulon-bound winger could be rivalling Tele’a and Jordan for headlines in the years to come.
From the touchline
The All Blacks will always have a home in Lyon. The world’s most instantly recognisable rugby team made France’s second city their base throughout the pool stage, with players visiting hospitals and schools, donating a specially carved bench to the city and much to the delight of locals, zooming around the streets (and in and out of the world-famous restaurants) on team e-scooters.
Key statistics
Despite remaining stuck on three Rugby World Cup wins, New Zealand’s fans should take some solace from the team’s attacking excellence in their run to the final.
Ahead of the deciding match, the All Blacks boasted the best red-zone efficiency (an average of 3.89 points per entry into the opposition 22) the most line-breaks (13.5 per game) and the most carries over the gain-line (84.5 per game at a tournament-leading 61%). In the end, it was not enough to stop the relentlessly efficient Springboks, but it was great to watch.
Verdict
A record fifth final appearance was a testament to a squad that peaked at just the right time. The quarter-final win against the Irish will go down as one of the greatest World Cup knockout matches and the effort by 14 men in the second half of the final to drag their team to within touching distance of the Webb Ellis Cup was close to miraculous.
In the end, 100-plus cap veterans Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith did not get the send-off they wanted but with the likes of Jordan, Fainga’anuku and prop Ethan de Groot around, the future remains bright.
Comments on RugbyPass
Starts 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
2 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.
2 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.
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
228 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
228 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 comments