New Zealand rugby pundits blamed tiredness at the end of a long season for the All Blacks' shock loss to England, also suggesting over-confidence contributed to the defeat.
Media were full of praise for England after they ended the world champions' 20-Test winning sequence with a famous 38-21 victory at Twickenham, comparing them to Martin Johnson's 2003 World Cup winners.
"England didn't just ambush the No.1 side in the game at Twickenham... they ambushed the rugby world," former All Black half-back Justin Marshall wrote in the Dominion Post.
The New Zealand Herald pointed out it was England's biggest win over the All Blacks, surpassing a 13-0 result in 1936, and the New Zealanders' second heaviest defeat ever, after a 28-7 loss to Australia in 1999.
While skipper Richie McCaw said after the game that a stomach bug in the tourists' camp had not affected his team, the Herald's Wynne Gray said it could not be ignored when searching for reasons behind the lacklustre display.
"The lack of sting from the start suggested illness which swept the team during the week had a severe impact," he wrote.
"If the team wasn't affected by illness, it was some lesson from England... they had a hunger that has not been apparent since the World Cup-winning group from 2003."
Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson said New Zealand had "nothing in the tank" in the final Test of a draining season.
"It was just one too far for our boys, who got second," he told Radio New Zealand. "They were beaten by a very good side, a very young side, I might add, and we're looking a bit old and weary."
In the lead-up to the game, New Zealand were touted as possibly one of the greatest rugby sides ever and Fairfax Media correspondent Toby Robson said some players had bought into the hype, to the frustration of coach Steve Hansen.
"Hansen is big on staying grounded, but his players were inflated with helium in the buildup to their final Test of the season," he wrote. "His players got ahead of themselves and paid the price."
Marshall dismissed suggestions illness and fatigue were behind the loss, saying the tourists were simply beaten by a better team.
"The All Blacks were out-thought, more than anything. England came with a game plan that we simply didn't think they could deliver," he wrote. "Maybe they even surprised themselves."
After handing out rugby lessons to opponents for 20 straight Tests, Marshall said the New Zealanders had now been given one by England and rookie players who had until now only tasted success with the All Blacks should "suck it up".
"The next major challenge in this part of the world will come in the 2015 World Cup and the likes of (Israel) Dagg, (Julian) Savea, (Sam) Whitelock and Aaron Smith will now know the sort of challenges they'll be up against," he said.
Comments
three6three6 says...
There is no doubt that the All Blacks were simply outplayed by England. A long season, tiredness, food poisoning and any other excuse should not detract from the manner of the England win. England won through scoring early points, then using real aggression in the contact area that simply did not allow the All Blacks to build any momentum. The score line was a very good indication of the relative merits of the two teams on the day.
I would agree with what NHsaints has highlighted - particularly the bit about the All Blacks being inaccurate (i.e. sqandering opportunities) and still winning close matches. Let us all hope that the chasing pack of countries continue to improve, so that we will see proper contests in future. A great starting point would be the recent form of France and England (vs the All Blacks).
World rugby needs at least two of the NH nations to be performing consistently at the highest levels.
Posted 16:36 13th December 2012
Waz4before says...
Hey, hands off "Fatigue" as an excuse ... that our (NH) excuse every time we lose down South !!!
Posted 07:12 10th December 2012
side_stepper says...
Carpelone
Kapa o Pango introduced during Tri Nations 2005 vs Springboks. They used it against England on 2005 EOYT. And yes they lost against Oz in 2007 Tri Nations.
Posted 07:43 07th December 2012
carpelone says...
mmmm but the Kapa o Pango was introduced the first time against the Boks, RWC 2007 champions right?
Maybe this is still the first loss with this haka.
Posted 15:51 05th December 2012
carpelone says...
side_stepper
Thanks.
Posted 15:49 05th December 2012
kybone says...
kennyisgay- Oh right, is that the same Australia that got slammed by France, is that the same Argentina that got slammed by Ireland. I notice that both NZ and SA sidestepped trips to France.
Posted 14:43 05th December 2012
side_stepper says...
@ Caperlone. Regarding your side question, I think ABs lost to the Wallabies in 07 using the Kapa o Pango. I stand corrected though!
Posted 08:39 05th December 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Try and remember that S15 teams and 4N teams spend 9 months crossing a multitude of timezones and Continents before the annual trip to antipodes in November.
Also, there are no "easy" games in S15 or 4N.
So trying to compare to NH competitions is meaningless until the NH teams regularly get on a flights longer than 10 hours.
With the Argies thrown into the mix it has now brought travel to South America into the equation for the first time this year.
Chuck in a dose of Madge's dodgy pork scratchings to clear out both ends and you're not going to be feeling too "chipper" come last game day of the year.
Posted 03:54 05th December 2012
NHsaints says...
The all blacks showed once again that their greatest weakness is a result of their greatest strength at Twickenham, with very little opposition of equal quality to play against they can happily squander up to 5 or 6 chances in a game without fear of losing (or even coming close to it) because they come up against defences that they can slice open with far too much ease....the answer? A tactical game with a strong defence focus, the way the All Blacks just hate to play. Or you can retain possesion for most of the game. We saw that 3 times this year against the All Blacks the first was Ireland's summer attempt which pushed Nz right to the edge in the second test (they played tactically and with much better ball retention than anyone up to that point), SA were the next to challenge at home where they only didn't win because of squandered kicks...again the key? Ball retention and a tough as nails defence. So why did England win? It's obvious right? They retained the ball well, built the phases and executed. And when Nz came knocking they hit back in defence.
Posted 23:48 04th December 2012
lacroix says...
yes, NZ are the best team int he world but even the best can me made to look pedestrian when an opposing team plays with passion and commitment as england did, and as France did in the RWC final. england got a few rubs of the green , yes, but it was interesting to see how the ABs heads went in both games...they clung on for a win at home in the RWC -merci M. Joubert ;) - but they got thumped at twickenham.
perhaps its hard for team so used to dominating to know what to do when put under sustained pressure so rarely.
either way, mccaw is right not to blame illness because that would make him look silly...after having been so utterly graceless in winning the WC.
Posted 22:21 04th December 2012
DaveJ says...
BDAUSSIE - think you got your results mixed up there buddy, Ireland "smashed" the Argies
Posted 15:09 04th December 2012
lawynd says...
@jontheref - I'd love it if there were just 'regional' leagues, that ignore domestic borders. We've got 38 teams between the Pro12, Top14 and AP, surely someone with an ounce of common sense could divide them up into relative regional groupings for a short period of games which pre-qualify the teams for the respective tiers of a continent-wide tournament? For development purposes, the format and initial idea for the Anglo-Welsh could be retained and expanded. Shorter and better managed seasons all round...sad it's only ever going to be a pipe dream.
Posted 13:14 04th December 2012
Storm says...
McCaw and co will have already targeted the November 2013 test vs England as a must win game. England put down a marker on Saturday stating that they can beat anyone at Twickenham in prep for the 2015 WC. Suddenly the Fall/Spring tours have become interesting again and I, for one, will be at Twickenham next November. If the Abs had won Saturday I would not have been interested.
While England deserve the headlines, France have just quietly strung together a few nice wins which seems to elude the current English squad. Phillipe St. Andre will be happy with his team's progress and ecstatic to be out of the spotlight. His team are very capable of winning the Six Nations and dare I say the WC in 2015?
Posted 13:02 04th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
win win situation. NZ aren't getting stupid abuse for the loss (they are still the greatest test team on the planet and everyone else can learn so much from them)
England should put the NZ aspect of the win to one side and just set their own performance as their benchmark. They played well, they game plan was solid and repeatable. No more backward steps, no more losing our way. let's step up onto this platform and build to better things.
Posted 12:22 04th December 2012
jontheref says...
SH teams manage the season better for their players.
Club regional Rugby in the NH is, as pointed out nearly wtice as long.
Sponsors will not allow a structured season up north, and it is to the detriment of the NH teams.
Whole season should change, you may start to get more suporters at the grounds if there are less, but more meaningful games.
National regional leagues, then HC based on where teams finish, not the mickey mouse, X did well in HC three and four years ago, so get the easier pool, which becomes self perpetuating.
Then 6N, and end of season tours.
If SH has to change the date of incoming tours, so be it.
Autumn tests may be Nov/Dec, and maybe we will get realistic fixturing, and not these extra tests which potentially cost Wales this time!
England benefited from the extra game, did NZ?
Posted 10:40 04th December 2012
AWEBLAX says...
Well played England you won that game fair and square, no denying that. I had to wonder during the game if the new AllBlacks were AllWhite, some fascinating rugby played by the men from England, deserved winners........
Posted 05:57 04th December 2012
Tamjon says...
The game between England and NZ will benefit everyone It will give England some self belief, great for a young team. It will also be good for some of the young AB's who until Saturday have never lost a game, helping keep them grounded.
I only hope Steve Tew also takes the message that in trying to make money to fund the AB brand (NZRU pocketed around $4mil for the game), he may well in fact be putting it at risk.
Posted 03:52 04th December 2012
kennyisgay says...
kybone says " I would argue that 3 tests against the Boks in SA is much tougher than 4 tests against the likes of Scotland, Italy, and an off colour Wales.
You said it buddy. Throw in the aussies and the argies and your sux nations against Scotland and Italy becomes clear - Reserve Grade.
Posted 22:55 03rd December 2012
LeftRightOut says...
@TVaddict says - I think Marshall IS being gracious in defeat - he is the only only quoted here that is giving credit where credit is due and saying England deserved the game. It would be disrepectful to take the other stance of blaming NZ illness and fatigue rather than acknowledging a great England peformance. If anything, JM tends to always favour the underdog in his commentary and hailing the upsets
Posted 22:46 03rd December 2012
7redcards says...
Great game, McCaw is a true warrior and gentleman (even if he is a great cheat) and he showed his class after the match with his humble attitude and glowing praise for England.
However as an England supporter, I was very worried by the look in his eyes whilst he was being interviewed, I get the feeling we have really made some hard work for ourselves the next time we meet the AB"s..............
Posted 22:34 03rd December 2012