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How the All Blacks bounced back from France defeat on ‘journey’ to final
By Finn Morton
Just two hours into the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks’ campaign was flipped on its head. For the first time ever, the New Zealanders had lost a pool match, and you could see how much it hurt.
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World-class players including Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane looked gutted after the loss to France as the pain, heartbreak and disappointment of defeat began to sink in. But that was only one match.
Almost two months on, halfback Aaron Smith spoke about how “the World Cup wouldn’t be won on that night” after New Zealand booked their place in an unprecedented fifth final.
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The All Blacks bounced back in pool play with three wins on the trot but saved their best performance so far for a thrilling quarter-final showdown with Ireland which they won 28-24.
New Zealand faced southern hemisphere rivals Argentina for a spot in the big dance and they never looked like losing as they ran away with a commanding 44-6 victory at Stade de France.
Six weeks on from that painful defeat to France, the All Blacks’ return to the sport’s biggest stage was complete. The New Zealanders are potentially 80 minutes away from another World Cup crown.
“It was a part of our journey and we know it had a lot of meaning, that game. It was a great opener for the World Cup, playing the host nation, and it was rocking that night,” halfback Aaron Smith said when asked about the France defeat.
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“For large periods of that game, we were pretty good but we weren’t good enough that night. We knew the World Cup wouldn’t be won on that night. It was just the first game and it was about us positioning ourselves to make a quarter-final. The last two steps have been really important.
“We’ve seen in the past other teams win it when they have lost in the pool play. It was all about the quarter-final and tonight it’s an amazing feeling.”
For the first time in Rugby World Cup history, the All Blacks charged into their quarter-final as the underdog. But the New Zealanders defied those odds to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
The All Blacks went behind early against Los Pumas, but first-half tries to Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell saw them race out to a hard-fought half-time lead.
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But their best was yet to come. Jordan was the hat-trick hero as the All Blacks ran away with a big win as they gave themselves “an opportunity” to win the sport’s ultimate prize.
“This is the dream, to be in the dance, to make the final and give ourselves an opportunity. There were hurdles to get here. It is a really satisfying feeling,” Smith added following the win over Argentina.
“The work only really starts now. We’ll be watching tomorrow and getting our bodies right. We’ve got a chance of winning the World Cup and that’s what you dream of as a rugby player.”
As a Bok supporter- sincerely well done to the All Blacks. They hold - at least for me- a special place. Kudos to them for enduring the criticism and coming out on the other side. Really hoping our Boks can get past England. A SA/NZ final would be something.
AG, you’ve got your wish, mate. Whatever happens next week in the final, a Southern Hemisphere team will be World Champions for the 4th time.