PARIS (AP) — This was the Rugby World Cup final New Zealand wasn't expected to reach.
Then to get there against arch foe South Africa and lose it 12-11 — one measly point — while playing most of it without the inspirational skipper just made the experience on Saturday all the more agonizing.
Ian Foster couldn't have been more chuffed after his last match as coach of the All Blacks.
“This group is very proud to be All Blacks, very proud to play for their country, and have worked incredibly hard to get here,” Foster said. “While I am so proud of what we did and how we worked, we have to give it to South Africa, they are a quality team . . . a different class. It's special for them but it equally hurts for us. I can't ask for much more than we did, we couldn't put more out on the park.”
After captain Sam Cane was sent off for a high tackle, the All Blacks had no right to be in the fight at halftime, let alone closing on fulltime.
With 14 men? The last time 14 All Blacks played the Springboks, they suffered their worst defeat in test history, 35-7, in a warmup at Twickenham.
Two months later, it was deja vu all over again.
Flanker Shannon Frizell was sin-binned after just three minutes but the All Blacks managed his absence by conceding only two penalty kicks to Handre Pollard.
The Springboks led only 9-3 when Cane was yellow-carded in the 29th for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel, and was in the sin-bin when his card was upgraded to red by the bunker. A collective gasp of shock swept through Stade de France.
But the All Blacks were calm. They'd prepared for losing a man. Moments later, they stole a South Africa throw-in.
Pollard kicked South Africa ahead 12-3 in the 35th, and they were to be the last points the Springboks scored.
“That game wasn't won or lost by Sam's red card,” center Rieko Ioane said. “We had our moments out there and if we were to capitalize on a better day we might have got a better flip of the coin. Tonight wasn't our night. As for Sam, I am sure he is feeling it but the boys will get around him. New Zealanders back home should be proud of the way Sam and Foz (Foster) have led this team. They've galvanized all us boys and we are proud of Sam.”
As for Foster, Ioane had nothing but more praise.
“Everyone was quick to get on him when things were bad and so quick to come back when things started coming good,” Ioane said. “The message is just believe in who's in charge because, as players, we do. This playing group has huge, huge praise for Fozzie, and whether he gets his flowers or not, he will from us.”
Just before halftime, Ioane was prevented from scoring a corner try by Cheslin Kolbe, but Richie Mo'unga's second penalty put the All Blacks only 12-6 down at the break, with neutrals in the crowd of 80,000 giving them every sympathy.
South Africa started the second half like it was trying to kill off the match for good, but Mo'unga dropped a rampaging Kolisi and Jordie Barrett held up Damian de Allende over the try-line, like his match-saving hold of Ireland's Ronan Kelleher in the quarterfinals.
Then Kolisi was sin-binned for crashing into the head of the immense Ardie Savea, who stepped up as the fill-in captain. With the teams evened out, the All Blacks rolled the dice — with 14 men.
Three times in the next eight minutes they waived off kickable penalties to kick to the corner and attack from lineouts.
The second time produced a try by retiring scrumhalf Aaron Smith in support of a break and dash by Mo'unga, but it was ruled out by a knock on.
The third time was the charm. Jordie Barrett's lob pass found unmarked winger Mark Tele'a, who let go of the ball in the tackle and Beauden Barrett scooped it off one bounce to become the first player to score in two finals. It was also the first try South Africa conceded in four finals.
Mo'unga couldn't convert from touch but the All Blacks were trailing by one with 22 minutes to go.
For most of it, though, they were pinned in their own half, producing sporadic moments.
Jordie Barrett missed a 50-meter penalty attempt then Savea charged down an attempted drop goal by Pollard. The final finished with scrums on South Africa's 22. South Africa picked a 7-1 bench to play two forward packs against New Zealand, but the All Blacks nullified the Springboks scrum that did in England in the semifinals.
“We didn't die wondering,” Smith said. “We threw everything we had, and the champions South Africa held strong. They nailed those little moments. That's test match rugby and it's brutal sometimes. It was an amazing game to be a part of.”
Foster nearly lost his job 18 months ago amid a host of unwanted results, but he masterminded an All Blacks revival that was a knock on and a missed penalty away from finishing gloriously.
“I would say there were a lot more up and downs (as coach),” he said. “It's a privilege. We lost, but as a coach you want your team on the big stage and to put their best foot forward, which they did. I couldn't be more proud.”
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