All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan has revealed that his side’s 2023 Rugby World Cup final defeat to the Springboks is something which still rankles with him.
That fixture between the two most successful nations in the history of the game was a dramatic encounter which went down to the wire and South Africa eventually clinched a nail-biting 12-11 triumph at the Stade de France in Paris.
Needless to say, it was a devastating result for Ryan and the rest of the New Zealand squad and he admitted that he is still battling to come to terms with the defeat nearly 18 months after the match was played.
Appearing on The Dom Harvey Podcast, Ryan was asked what it was like to finish on the losing side in the final of the global showpiece and replied: “Holy heck, what’s that like? Sh*t. Awful.”
He then went on to explain that the disappointment of the defeat to their arch rivals has not left him as he believed the All Blacks were destined to win that match.
‘There’s still that burnt memory there’
“Oh, it simmers. There’s still that burnt memory there and it should be, the expectation is the All Blacks should win every Test and reality is that’s not going to happen but it’s how we respond to those,” said Ryan.
“But I honestly thought we were in a great spot as a whole management group, coaching group and playing group to win that game and right up until even probably the last minute I still thought we were going to win it. I really did.
“So I think the boys gave it their all and you’re always going to get a few calls and bits and pieces that go against you. That’s footy.”
Ryan revealed that what made the disappointment tougher to take was the fact that World Cup final was the last time that several legendary All Blacks were in action in the international arena.
‘A memory that will stick with me for a long time’
“It was pretty awful in the sheds (after the game). You know, like seeing guys pull the jersey off for the last time that have given so much. That’s a memory that will stick with me for a long time, you know,” he added.
“There was Dane Coles, Sammy Whitelock. There was Brodie Retallick that was in my area, the forwards, so you sort of stay a little bit more closer to them in a way.
“Aaron Smith been giving great service. So it was tough, you know. It was awful seeing them know that that’s the last time they’ll wear the jersey and it’s been a big part of their life and they’re known as great Kiwis.”
Ryan expanded on the aftermath to that defeat and how the All Blacks squad tried to get over their despondency.
“So it was pretty rough. But we had a good couple of days together and Six60 (New Zealand pop rock band) came into the hotel and played a few tunes and we were just sort of sitting around and chilling,” he said.
“There’s also a coaching group and some of the coaches in the management group sort of didn’t know where they were at.
“So it was a bit of a rough time, but it’s professionalism, isn’t it? You can’t sugarcoat everything and everything’s just got to get on with it, you know.
“Decisions were made and you’ve just got to move forward.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-coach-revisits-awful-world-cup-final-loss-to-springboks-with-a-few-calls-and-bits-going-against-new-zealand
