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Jordie Barrett credits 'the big boys' for winning big moments in semi-final
By Ned Lester
The 2023 Rugby World Cup final has its first participant: the three-time world champion All Blacks. The bronze final awaits for their defeated semi-final opponent, Argentina.
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Both teams made just shy of 200 tackles in a match where New Zealand winger Will Jordan Claimed a hat-trick, tying the record for most tries in a single Rugby World Cup campaign with on match to spare.
A total of seven tries were registered by the Kiwis while each of Los Pumas’ efforts fell short, unable to cross the chalk throughout the 80 minutes.
Among the many impressive performances, New Zealand’s second five-eighth Jordie Barrett was awarded Man of the Match.
Barrett shared match-highs in tackles (19) and carries (10), frequently searching for work around the ruck among the forwards as well as performing his role superbly in the midfield.
“It’s so sweet,” he gleefully exclaimed after the match. “It’s new territory for this group. We slipped at the semi-final hurdle four years ago.
“I am just so proud of this group. It’s not done yet. We will have a very tough match regardless of who we have next week. It’s another week, which we are so grateful for.
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“The conditions actually helped us a little bit. We were able to go forward and put their skillset under a wee bit of pressure with the greasy ball.
“One to eight laid a massive foundation for us. Scrum penalties and some maul penalties took the sting out of their legs. The big boys did an outstanding job.”
In progressing to the final, the All Blacks go one step further than their 2019 effort wich saw the team dismantled by England before playing off for third.
“It’s new territory for a lot of boys but there are also World Cup winners and World Cup finalists so we will call on their experience as much as we can. We are just going to enjoy the week as much as possible. It’s special times.”
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Either England or South Africa will meet New Zealand in the final, both potential opponents having played in the 2019 final in Japan.
New Zealand captain Sam Cane was part of the All Blacks team in 2019 to watch that final from afar, forced to rue crucial mistakes that would haunt the team for four years.
“It means a heck of a lot,” Cane said after the match. “It was a tough game out there tonight.
“I thought our forwards did an outstanding job – set-piece, maul time, earned a few penalties, got a bit of dominance and it kept a lot of pressure on the Argentinians. We knew they’re a team that will fight for everything and they wouldn’t go away. So that ability to keep piling on points was pleasing.
“We are in a good spot, in the final, exactly where we wanted to be. Amazing support, a lot of black jerseys out here. I know there will be heaps at home cheering us on too so it’s going to be an exciting week ahead.”
One final opponent sits between the All Blacks and a fourth engraving on the Webb Ellis Cup, and the Kiwis will take plenty of positives out of their semi-final into the big dance.
Cane said his side’s ability to win big moments was crucial.
“Yeah, it was tight. We managed to get a couple of tries early but then it was a real arm wrestle for a while.
“The scrum penalty just before half-time, we were able to kick for touch. We had numerous phases and then Shannon Frizell scored right on half-time, and then those couple of minutes after half-time when Aaron Smith scored, I thought they were really crucial moments. Pretty stoked.”
