New Zealand coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett return home amid expected back-to-back defeats to Springboks in Republic Devin Hermanus.
The All Blacks suffered another painful defeat to the world champions on Saturday, losing 18-12 in Cape Town. It was the Boks’ fourth consecutive win over their toughest rivals, a record in the professional era, and South Africa’s first victory since 2009 of the Freedom Cup.
After leading the Boks 9-3 in the first half, the Kiwis, who had been very similar to their previous game in Johannesburg, faltered again in the closing stages. The defeat left Robertson’s men desperate to find a way to finish the game. – This is the problem they encountered in recent testing.
Manager Robertson was tough in his post-match press conference, acknowledging the difficulties his team currently faces but making no excuses.
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“It was a great Test match. Congratulations to South Africa. They know how to do it. They took their chances, especially when they were in the top 22, and they got it done,” Robertson said.
Looking back on the Kiwis’ inability to finish the game, Laser maintained a cool-headed outlook. “It’s been a great tour, we’ve created enough chances but we haven’t finished them yet. Small differences in Test football… The All Blacks shirt demands the best of us and demands that we finish what we’ve created.”
The game was a case of missed opportunities, most notably when fly-half Damien McKenzie missed two crucial penalty attempts in the second half. Those errors came at crucial moments when the All Blacks could have extended their lead, and Robertson lamented the way the game was being played out.
“We probably kicked a few goals here and there and converted a couple of chances… it’s as simple as that,” he said. “We had a couple of chances to win it, but we didn’t take them.”
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Robertson was candid when asked if the pressure was mounting on his side. “Yes, but you have to be honest and forthright when you approach something like this and just move on.” He was well aware of the criticism they would face back home.
For Barrett, the result was another tough pill to swallow, especially considering how hard the team had fought. “It was a physical Test match, and that’s always the case against South Africa,” he said.
“We’ve done enough, but especially against a team of the class of SA, we have to beat them,” Barrett said. “It’s very disappointing to be on the wrong side of that for the second time.”
Looking ahead, Barrett admitted there was growing anxiety within the squad, particularly ahead of the week off before the next Test match against the Wallabies. “We definitely have to regroup. There will be a lot of discomfort heading into the week off. We have to stress that because I don’t know for sure right now. But yeah, we have to get better.”
With the Rugby Championship gone, Robertson and Barrett are aware of the scrutiny that awaits them, but both are focused on turning things around. “Test matches are about finishing,” Robertson stressed. “That’s the next step for us.”
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
