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World Cup winners question crucial All Blacks decision against South Africa
By Josh Raisey
In a match that finished with a 12-11 scoreline, the World Cup final came down to fine margins and crucial moments- a successful pass here or an accurate kick there and the All Blacks could have come away victorious, or equally South Africa could have won more comfortably.
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As far as crucial moments go, they do not get any bigger than the All Blacks’ decision to kick to the corner in the 51st minute. Trailling 12-6 at the time, but critically with 14 players against 14 as Siya Kolisi was yellow carded, New Zealand decided to turn down a likely three points from Richie Mo’unga for a potential five or seven. A few phases later and Will Jordan was knocking the ball on and the Springboks had repelled the All Blacks.
On such moments are matches won and loss, and as a result they are much discussed once the final whistle blows. Former World Cup winners Conrad Smith and Jean de Villiers, and former England wing Ugo Monye went over that decision on the Official Rugby World Cup 2023 Podcast, and questioned whether it was the right call, albeit with the luxury of hindsight.
While it did not turn out to be the correct call, the former All Black Smith said that there are no right or wrong decisions, and moments like that are one of the “beautiful parts” of rugby.
“As a spectator, I don’t like drilling onto those decisions, but I would love to ask that,” the Smith said about understanding the reasoning behind the decision to kick for the corner.
“I had Thierry Dusatoir and Matt Giteau next to me and I was really confused. Part of me thought, maybe they knew Siya was only goint to get a yellow, so they had ten minutes to capitalise on 14 on 14. But, as far as I could see, I just thought ‘take those three, man. You’re in a final.’
Monye countered by quoting England fly-half George Ford, who talked about the feel of a game that players have that coaches and fans do not have. “George Ford said to me,” he said. ‘Coaches in the stands, they see things that we don’t see on the pitch as players, but players feel different things that coaches never feel.’ So that was a feel decision, and you never want to take the feel away from players.”
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Smith agreed with Monye, and added that there’s never a right decision. He said: “Look, and Jean you’re been the same, I’ve been captain and there are those moments in a game that I love. They’re beautiful parts of the game because there are no right decisions. You’ll go for the line and score and they’ll be like ‘that was it,’ or then you’ll go and miss the lineout and they’re like ‘you should have taken the three points.’ There’s never a right decision, but they took the punt there and I just questioned it, but you can do that with every decision in the game.”
Former Springboks captain de Villiers was a man of few words in this discussion, but added: “I thought it was the right decision… for us.”
The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
I dont know what game you lot were watching but Barnes and the tmo decided the outcome of the game i watched the all blacks definatly won the final
Well done to the AB'S for hanging tight and staying in the game with 14 men. Lots of respect for them. Was a typical WC final. Tight, close and enthralling. Like most WC finals it was missed opportunities. Boks missed 2 chances for tries. NZ missed a couple of kicks at goal. WC finals are not for the romantics. It is about winning. That’s it.
Lots of complaints about lack of tries etc etc. For our NZ brothers…. Didn't see you complain about an 8-7 win in 2011?
To me it was a magnificent final between contrasting styles. Defence and attack. I.e. Federer v Nadal, Brazil v Germany in soccer, Sugar Ray Leonard v Marvelous Marvin Hagler etc etc
All sports have it and it makes for enthralling contests.
Well done to both the AB'S and the Boks.
In their own ways they came through adversity to get to the final.
Long may the All Black v Springboks rivalry continue.
We were beaten by 1 point. That’s a great result really. Still one to be proud of. Congratulations SA.
Boks weren’t giving away much, a try there at the 5m with even teams was a good shot, we just didn’t keep the patience. That blind move got everyone tangled up.
Penalties AB 10 Boks 5 last penalty for the boks 34min 1st half.
Something was said to the officials at halftime about not awarding boks any penalties, the side with the best discipline at the WC. Please don’t tell me the AB for 46min became angels and didn’t make one mistake, I saw AB’s going off their feet in ruck, off side when boks was on attack, nobody says or complain about this!!! AB got a forward pass try less 5 points actual score should have been Boks 12 AB 6. AB is as bad losers as the Poms where in 2019, at least the AB did put the silver medal on. Sorry AB you lost fair an square, you could have won this game but lacked the BMT when the pressure was on, some silly decisions going for line, 2 missed kicks at post, comes down to BMT in these big matches. Well done to the BOKS and Pieter Stef De Toit and Pollard they won the game for the Boks.
After all the ifs and buts the ABs and Fozie would still have been Rassied. Just accept it.
Err, lol, NZ scored off the next phase of play. In the 53rd minute. What on earth is this article?
Foster the ex All Black coach is the biggest sour winger, he wants a review on the ref and said his coaching panel will review the game. Mr Foster you're no longer the coach, go now your lawn.
Worse record over a four year period of any All Black coach, he's never won a Super Rugby final.
I'm a AB supporter, we had chances to win that game, when we kicked for the corner, could you imagine Ritchie McCaw not taking the three points 😠 so it's nothing to do with the ref..
Bring on Scott Robinson, if he can can't beat Foster 69.9% win four year record, I'll fly to the moon on a broomstick🧹
At least Scott Robinson will play his team in the right positions 😜
Those penalties that could have been goaled were all in the same visit to the Springbok half as the try. Going for touch didn't cost the All Blacks points, it gained them two (five minus three).