New Zealand coach Steve Hansen praised England following their 38-21 victory over his side at Twickenham on Saturday.
The All Blacks recovered from a virus picked up in mid-week but were second best against England at Twickenham, but Hansen remained proud of his players for a fantastic year.
"England should be very proud of what they achieved," he said.
"We tested them and they responded. I know we've fallen over today but eventually our boys should reflect on what happened this year and be proud of what they've achieved.
"Dan [Carter] trained and kicked well, although he missed a couple that normally you would think he'd get. I don't think you can use his injury as an excuse, we just got beaten by a better side.
"I find it interesting that everyone is surprised. This is a good England side and people should back them. It won't be plain sailing all the time and if you back them, they will get better.
"Two teams were capable of winning the Rugby World Cup out there. We will go away and work out where we can get better.
England captain Richie McCaw ruled out that the bug New Zealand picked up in the week had an effect, stating that despite the loss the All Blacks should be proud of what they have achieved in 2012.
"I don't think the sickness was a factor," he revealed.
"I felt fine in that department. They kept the scoreboard ticking over and apart from that period when we scored we were on the back foot."
McCaw is now set to take a six-month sabbatical from the sport and admitted his frustration at going out on a losing note.
"It's going to be disappointing there's no doubt," he said.
"But you can't do anything about it right now and when the boys do get over it, we'll come back next year and there will be something to remind us what it's all about, which is a small positive for next year. Once you get past today, it hasn't been a bad year.
"England will get better from this experience and they're going to be a good team. The more you play the more you understand what it takes to win consistently."
Comments
paulynz says...
All class from Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw.
England were the better team on the day no doubt about that. And for their win to include a number of tries only emphasises how good they were.
Congratulations England and enjoy the moment English fans...
Posted 21:20 02nd December 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Hansen straight to the point and well said, can only agree, well played England, a great catalyst for a new young team to develop into something special, let's hope it wasn't a one-off. The loss hasn't been received too badly in NZ, most commentators thinking this is something the ABs needed in their evolution, an opportunity to retire a couple of the senior guys who may have offered enough and chance to address some areas of concern. It had to happen sooner or later, onwards and upwards from here. Good luck England for the 6N.
Posted 18:59 02nd December 2012
SMV16 says...
I always go into any match expecting AB's to win but with the possibility of losing against the likes of SA, Aus, Fra, and Eng. People forget the AB's have had a couple of very average games but got away with them, the test against SA (Dunedin I think) and our last one against Aus. The ABs don't always get more chances to score they just convert the chances they get more often. But on some days you get beat by a team that does that to you and its a fact of life...even the best teams lose and often its not the games they're expected to lose. I think this AB's team has been slightly over hyped but in saying that I don't see this as a sign of where England or NZ are. Its just a blip for NZ and one win doesn't make England a great side. Every side have a great game in them.
Posted 16:54 02nd December 2012
lawynd says...
There are some bitter posts here...you chaps really couldn't be magnanimous on the one occasion that you lost to a better team on the day?
Posted 13:14 02nd December 2012
PAMPA says...
I have to say that was a brilliant game, well done England (I'm Pumas support), they play really good...
Posted 12:38 02nd December 2012
doldennut says...
Dont you find it funny that every since the ABs adopted a shirt sponsor that they have won 3 lost 1 drawn 1. I would say that in all 5 of those games they didnt play well in all of them for a host of reasons (as well as the opposition playing well too!) Maybe its karma for selling the shirt.
Also playing extra games for more money to the NZRU coffers.
It asks another question or comment, I cant understand how the NZ rugby union runs the game at a marginal profit/loss in NZ when it is the no. 1 sport and gets the lion share of sponsorship and funding there. Someone must be making a killing out of it, as the players obviously are not! Go the fish heads!
Posted 09:35 02nd December 2012
PREEST says...
Well I certainly didn't expect that, but I think it will do a lot of good for the ABs and keep them grounded. A good year all round. Well done England. New Zealand are not unbeatable, as Deans had said.
Posted 08:55 02nd December 2012
Iyhel says...
@ bothhands: a polite machine would have had a word on the French team back in October.
Posted 07:57 02nd December 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ Isograford: ditto mate; the ABs defence has been weak since RWC. Not sure of the stats but me thinks they leaked a few tries to Wales & England in this tour as well as a few to SA & OZ in the 4 nations. Since the personell have been more or less the same, it must be the tactics and training that caused this.
Just wonder if they miss Kaino & SBW :)
Posted 05:05 02nd December 2012
sharkies says...
Looks like you guys got done by suzie again...... try washing your hands. Well done England
Posted 03:56 02nd December 2012
LondonWasp says...
@bigb6969
you sound a wee bit sore...
Posted 02:44 02nd December 2012
atg77 says...
It doesn't add up that England could loose narrowly to South Africa and Australia and flog a team far superior to all of them... there is a no question this virus had a major effect on the NZ players.
Posted 01:19 02nd December 2012
georgesmith says...
Good to see the high-flying S. Hansen seemingly enjoying a humble pie. Better get used to it because ABs are aging and it is getting evident.
Posted 01:18 02nd December 2012
NHsaints says...
@PR editor: "England captain Richie McCaw"? I think that's supposed to say New Zealand captain...
@bigb6969 & caramba13 stop whinging and making crappy excuses, no team would have lived with England today except a fresh, full strength New Zealand and even they would have struggled, they were (for once) clinical in all the right areas of the field. A win like this has been simmering beneath the surface, you might as well concede it because no doubt New Zealand will be back to thrashing sides 50-0 next year. Also we started the year in 4th place and got our best results against SA since 2005. We lost the six nations by the skin of our teeth and still came a solid second with all of 200 ish caps (to Wales' 400 +) all of which belonged to our halfbacks and tight 5.
Posted 21:36 01st December 2012
trianglechoke says...
Way to go Richie & Steve, a classy response to a bad defeat ! Makes me proud to be an Allblack supporter & Kiwi here in the States !
Posted 21:10 01st December 2012
alanatleeds says...
Glad to see the NZ captain is more respectable in defeat than most of the antipedean posters on PR.
Posted 20:59 01st December 2012
Dafydd29 says...
@caramba - we will never know the origin of "the bug" but it took a mercenarie Samoan to beat the AZb's.
Posted 20:52 01st December 2012
rugbylover says...
Richard McCaw. What a captain. What a player. What a fine gentleman. What an example to every rugby lover [and anyone else] on the planet.
Posted 20:40 01st December 2012
bothhands says...
I think McCaw is a machine, says the right things in victory, says the right things in defeat. I am sure they could press him all day on the sickness' influence and he will say no all day. 'spect.
Posted 19:16 01st December 2012
Isograford says...
Perhaps now all this silly talk here in the NZ media will stop labeling this side the best All Blacks ever. Sadly Wayne Smith is greatly missed as defence coach, in years past we went up north and didn't even concede a try on these tours.
I'd say it might make the NZRU wake up to these ridiculously long years for the AB's, but that'll never happen.
Traditionally a loss has never hurt the All Blacks, and usually ended up being a good thing. I think all the wins this year has made them gloss over a few obvious issues.
Posted 19:07 01st December 2012