Crestfallen New Zealand address loss against the Springboks in Rugby World Cup final 

I'm South African through and through but the All Blacks have always given world rugby followers so much pleasure and set a standard that deminstrates good character and wholesomeness. These men and their families and their country have not let themselves or world rugby done. Thank you.

As a South African I salute you. You have so much to be proud of.

I must applaud how gracious the All Blacks are in defeat. Absolute top sportsmen 🇿🇦🙏🏻

As a Springbok supporter, I have great respect. The AB played superbly well with 14 men. No other team in the world could put up a fight like that with 14 men. They remain the best to have ever played the game. But fortune was on our side, see you in 2027.

They might have lost the WC, but this AB team won hearts and minds. Warriors all of them, which they could not be if Sam wasn't such a good leader. Tough luck Sam. Much respect from a Saffa.

As a South African, I was heartbroken for that red card, felt it was HARSH. New Zealand is a top tier team, lose graciously, showed class throughout this match, no yapping and mouthing off to the refs, no fights, just class all the way! Well done NZ, we salute you and respect you always! Congrats Bokke 🇿🇦💙

I will always support the all blacks when the Springboks are not playing... not because I love New Zealand, because of the immense respect I have for the AB squad and their history. Honored to have played in you in the finals. Hope to face you again in 2027.

As a South African im over the moon that we won, however even if NZ won it wouldnt have been a loss because the manner in which they play the game and always have a believe that they can win is inspirational in itself❤ NZ actually pushed the pedal to the metal with one man down. If there is 1 team who SA supports in rugby its the New Zealand team, much love guys well played yesterday!😊

As a South African. I have so much respect for the All Blacks great team . Great Coach and Captain. The people in New Zealand need to be proud of their team. It was not an easy game.

SA fan here. Obviously super stoked for the Boks on their 4th WC title. But I was bitterly disappointed when Sam’s yellow was upgraded to red. 10 mins off the field is punishment enough I feel.😢

From South africa, I and many I know will always have a lot of respect for the All Blacks, we love you, and we hope to one day have this honour and experience to play against you again.. Awesome game.. Awesome team..❤🇿🇦

All Blacks you were awesome considering what you went through back home in NZ. You are all a legend you only lost by 1 point. Sam it was only a game hold your head high.

Thank you, NZ. You are an amazing team, and it was an amazing effort. Good luck for the future. ❤🇿🇦 well done, Bokke.

To be humble in defeat...We take heed. In Humbleness we respect you for the wonderful final . South Africa respect you

Really did well AB especially with only 14 players and missing two kicks. Many people will have many answers after the fact, but it was a super tight game that could have gone either way right down to the last second. I am super proud for our win, but must say thanks for world class rugby.

So much respect for Sam. As a passionate Bokke supporter I’ve got so much respect for the ABs but especially this set of ABs led by Sam. Looking forward to meeting you again in the next Rugby Championships.

Pure class - congratulations AB for a magnificently well fought game. Your tenacity is respected. As a South African I am glad we faced such worthy opponents.

You gave it everything. Proud of the team. Four more years we will go again ❤

It's meaningless to say but I'm going to say it anyway. AB's can hold their heads DAMN high. The amount of respect we Saffa's have for you is far beyond any other. May we meet again in 2027

Much respect to Ian Foster and Sam Cane. Real gentlemen. Thank you for a great final NZ.

Well done ABs, Fozzie and his coaching staff. Congratulations to the Boks.

This was a worthy final for a World Cup. A great spectacle for rugby. So many epic games in this WC. Beautiful rugby. The biggest rivalry in international rugby NZ-RSA. Huge respect for the ABs and well done Boks!

Where we were watching here in South Africa we all thought that red card was extreme. Thanks All Blacks for a good game. N Z should be proud of you.

Immensely Proud WELL DONE at how you carry this Heartbreak with immense fortitude Just GREAT Guyz 👊🔥‼️

Nothing but respect for our AB brothers. We celebrate today, but we share the sorrow of our your loss loss. We have always been brothers, and brothers look after each other. To my AB brotherd we salute you👏👏👏

Saffa here. Breaks my heart to see the NZ this heartbroken. We respect you more than you know! You played heroically!

Well done Sam and Foz for taking it on the chin and fronting up, proud of the team playing with 14 for their Captain and Coach and taking NZ to another RWC final. Sadly couldn't win it on the day but much respect to South Africa to take 4 RWC wins.

As a foe to the all blacks I have always liked the way nz has manned up to a defeat and been soooo humble in victory. That’s their dna. Bad luck AB’s and hope to have many more. You have a great team. Best of luck for ‘24

Please protect Sam Cain .

Well done ABs, respect from a Saffa. I want to loose a game to you rather than anyone else in the world. ABs will be back! Love brothers.

as a saffa, was sad to see sam get red, but all the respect to Ian and the all blacks that pushed us all the way.. we had to make 260 odd tackles!.. and we know what the score was...but it just shows the growth in this incredible team in 8weeks..they got rd then and lost with a record ... and got written off. how things have changed! i respect them so much, and hope, even despite the loss, the nz faithful will give ian, sam and the rest of the boys the respect the deserve!

The build up to this game was special - a celebration of Rugby's greatest rivalry and the Final lived up to expectation. As an avid Bok fan I salute the humility of the All Blacks captain and coach. Tough to have to face the press after such a close game where the stats showed your true quality and effort. You are great ambassadors of the greatest game on the planet and you will no doubt achieve much in the future. Sam Cane I feel for you - will miss you Fossie - to the Boks well done and delighted with your win. There's no greater Test than the All Blacks and we know how hard they will come back at us.

me as a south african, hats of to the all blacks for playing with 14 men,but still manage to give us a scare, they are also a better team who were just unlucky today.

So much emotion, especially at the end from Foster. It is very clear what it means to them. I also respect them for wearing their medals with pride, they played a hell of a game.

I feel hart broken for Sam Cane, what a player! I'm a South African and Springbok supporter, but I have so much respect for this All Blacks team. Hold your heads up high boys.

Huge credit to Sam Cane. Incredible disappointment faced head on. If there is any solace, this is an inspiration for how to deal with failure.

His team fought for him, they rallied because he couldn't. I think that shows who Sam Cane has been. I know much of the talk that surrounds him places him firmly in the shadow of his predecessors but he's been a great leader for this team. I hope everyone remembers his contributions helped guide the ABs all the way to this final. I hope he remembers this too and can put this firmly in the past in time. Much love to coach, captain, team and fans. It's been a world cup campaign to be proud of. Until next time 🇿🇦💛💚

Even if we lost as South Africa I wasn’t going to be sad when you guys won. You are a great team. 🇿🇦

Really tough on Sam. Great courage to turn up for the press conference. As an Englishman I know how easy it is to focus on decisions that have real impact. Two amazing teams, well done South Africa but heartfelt comiserations to the All blacks.

couldn’t be more proud of the effort the AB’s put in today. And congratulations to South Africa.

Great game of rugby by both teams. As a springbok supporter, Sam you have show great bloody courage by facing the press so soon after. Well done mate keep the head up and playing good rugby. As 2 proud rugby nations, you will have the support around you to bounce back.

It was a great final, and a testament to the All Blacks' resilience, playing at 14 against 15 as long as they did.

6:27 "Clearly they learned to fight in dark places" 😂 Such true words!

AB's man fought like machines. If there is something to be learned from 1995 and 2023 is that the AB's and Boks fight like HELL till the final whistle in a final. at no point till the whistle went was the game over. you could see the stress on every fans face in every video.

Always back Green - well done All Blacks, Win lose or Draw the respect shown between these 2 sides over the decades shows that you can half kill each other on the field and still respect and be close friends with your sporting rivals what other sport does that. Head up NZ love from a Bok Fan.

Total respect for the AB’s thank you for the game you brought today, pure quality

Hard luck New Zealand. Great performance. Congratulations South Africa

Allb's heads up soldiers you made your country proud of the fact you made it to finals and you made some bokke fans day seeing yall play the way you did with 14 mean Much ❤ from🇿🇦

Gave us a phenomenal workout with 14 guys on the field

What a team!! Gone from people writing them off to a world cup final! Sam was unlucky with the red. Nearly did it with 14 men for 50 minutes, Absolute legends. You can hold your heads up high!

I like the sport man attitude of the New Zealanders they showed how great they instead are after the lost great teams does not complained for the sake of complaining when you lost you still remains great and accept defeat that's what I appreciate with New Zealanders

Sam Cane, you are an absolute Champ. SA fan, but so respectful, you can be so proud.

Well done All Blacks . You are such gracious sportsmen and gentlemen . I respect you as a team immensely.

mad respect for NZ's rise in performance after the preparation and opening game and most of all for bringing SA to the absolute limit with 1 man down for most of the time

ABs, we respect you like a big brother of the game. Sometimes, we want to avoid going head to head with in the World Cup. However, we loved it to meet you at the final. From Saffa fan

Fozzie sums up my emotions. Gutted for the loss but equally proud of the boys for their tournament as a whole but mainly their fight back in that final with 14 men. So close. One of those two missed kicks could have been the difference. So proud we gave ourselves a chance to win it.

Im a South African supporter living in NZ now. You guys were amazing!! Must be hard to loose a game like this. But thank you for your honesty and taking it like real men. So proud of you guys.

Pride for the huge fight put in by our ABs 🖤 congrats to S.A for the win, history was made

Best team that played rugby lost on the day.

Thank you to the All Blacks you have a faithful supporter and I'm proud of all of you .....thank you.❤

As a South African, I am obviously ecstatic that we won. But I have to say, the All Blacks have always been our most feared and respected foe, for a reason. They are an immense team that just deserves respect all round. On the day, the cards fell just right for us.

Gracious in the game, no back chat, no whinging or diving. They can both look back on contributing to & continuing the only dynasty there is in Rugby, the All Black's. The myth and magic is still alive and Rugby is better for it. Thank you gents.

AB you’ll always be champions. Respect from South African 🇿🇦.

As a Cornishman who played rugby through the 70's-80's there would not have been 15 players left on the pitch from either team with the way rugby is going! Rugby is a contact sport where rugby collisions happen during the game, l know safety is an important issue, but that red card decision was ridiculous, All credit to the AB who fought for their captain, and respect to Sam a great leader of the team which showed through by the grit and determination shown by One and All. Cowabunga dudes!!

As overjoyed as I am at the Springboks winning our 4th World Cup, I take no pleasure in the ABs losing, especially by such a narrow margin. To our brothers in black : it’ almost unfair that in a game such as this, there has to be a loser. Thank you for pushing us so hard, all the way to the final whistle. To defeat the ABs in a World Cup final is the dream of every young South African boy, and you showed us again on Saturday why there is no worthier opponent on rugby's biggest stage. Losing by a single point while playing with 14 men for most of the game, shows the incredible skill and depth of character synonymous with All Black rugby. See you very soon in the Rugby Championship , when the next chapter of the greatest rivalry in sport will unfold...

Congratulations SA Still very proud of the AB

Heads up Sam, the mighty All Blacks kept fighting to the very end regardless of the dodgy calls! They kept their composer & showed tremendous resilience right through 💪✊❤️. Only down fall was not taking the 3’s but always an All Black fan 🖤🖤.

Head up men , we are very proud of you guys , always will be ABs FOR LIFE

Hard luck Sam and Fozzy. Proud of you and team 🖤✊️

Thanks Fozzie!!

We love playing the All Blacks, your respect for the game is awesome. Hard luck guys, you played a great final.

That red card gonna hunt him for life sadly ... but fair play All Blacks the rivalry stays strong ... 2 best teams in the world and 1 point in it .. wow what a final ... glad Siya couldn't win us a 4th trophy as his final world cup game ... my heart is fucked ... 3 weeks in a row nerve of a 1 point game wow... now I can relax.

The All Blacks were exceptional... to go down to 14 and put on the performance they did was absolutely incredible. No-one wanted to see a red card, and Sam quite frankly didn't deserve it. As a Bok supporter, I was happy for the win, and very proud of my team for never giving up, but it was also incredibly impressive to see the fight in the All Blacks, that I don't think any other team could have brought to that game, in that way. It was truly a spectacular battle Royale, between the very best 2 teams in the world, Well done, every single player deserves huge credit and applause and can be very proud of what they did out there - you are all Champions. Thank you!

Well played Kiwi's, great sportsman. We salute you. We always look forward to the next Rugby game we are privileged to watch between our Two Teams. RUGBY Forever 🏉🏉🏉

It was truly sad seeing the ABs get wounded by that red card!

Bye Fozzie - I wish the NZ Rugby board that hired you were going, too. Can't wait to see the improved results under Razor Robertson, former coach of the champion Crusaders. And thanks to all you Irish fans coming on these threads and having a go at the AB's and their fans - knowing how much pain you lot are in, after being so certain you'd win this competition for the first time, is very satisfying...

You done well All Blacks. 14 men right from the start more or less, so I am very proud. Imagine if it was 15 on 15 for the whole match! 💪

Great game! Great final! Boks are now best team of all time!! Thank you to All blacks for always pushing us. Go bokke

Up the ABs. Yous will definitely bounce back. 🤝🇿🇦

I'm a very loyal South African and Springbok supporter. As always, a massive amount of respect for the All Blacks. They always give their all. So much heart and integrity. Worthy opponents, as always.

I'm so proud of ours boys. Even we're lost because the wrong decision they make but still proud of ours.AB well done AB.❤❤❤❤❤

down one man , the captain and the opposition plus officials only beat us by 1

As a SAFFA... I am happy that we played the OLD RIVAL... what a performance from both teams.. I saw the kitchen sink been thrown back to back tonight. anybody could have won that match.

Can’t even imagine how tough that is for Sam. Not malicious intent in that tackle. These things happen in a split second and look so much worse in slow motion. Almost impossible to play such an intense physical game these days without a yellow or a red card.

The All Blacks, our rugby brothers. You were wonderful in that game and we as South Africans respect and appreciate you, mighty warriors

That part when "Sam" said he had to live with that red card moment forever just broke my heart💔, I hope he uses it as motivation more than depression.

There was always going to be a winner and a looser they all knew that going in. Knowing this you play clean, dont push boundaries, dont try elimate the top opponent players through well practiced borderline fouls. Red card was right call - that was the head (rules clear nothing above shoulders) Kolosi tackle was borderline in terms that there was No foul - player had ball in hand, was on the ground already in another tackle and taken around shoulders. No foul here!! Every player knows the stakes especially at a RWC. Ref frustrated me like crazy and maybe toooo much TMO but at these high stakes after some stress relieving I realise they did a great kob under immense pressure. 2 of the best teams in the world, Im greatful to have watched such a game. All these players can be very proud of themselves this game certainly not a sissy game. Props boys 💪

Can’t thank the ABs enough for a fantastic contest, what a final.! 🇿🇦

Thank you Nz you pushed us till then end great rugby nation go well Ian Foster you gave it your best shot

It’s hard to eat this interview 💔. Keep your head up, you are a strong team ❤

Better luck next time AB, you were amazing to watch. Congratulations to my team Springboks 💃💃💃💃🏆🏆🏆🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🔥🔥🙌 Well deserved win 💪🔥🔥🇿🇦🇿🇦🎉🎉🎊💯

Your a champion Fozzie......it didn't go our way today, but you did everything you could have to help us win that game. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

Good on you Fozzie - Michel Cheika, Eddie Jones, take notes please.

Keep your heads up lads, youll did your best, and in Aotearoa, we appreciate your world cup efforts and putting your bodies on the line. Come home and enjoy Christmas with your families and mates. Ka pai All Blacks 💪🏽

A lot of sportsmanship. I like it. Well done boks brought it back home 🇿🇦

Yous done well boys. Fozzy take a bow, I'm proud of yous all. The mismatch are very telling in these games. I don't bet on games where certain people are there, and i'm a betting man. When it comes to my money, that's when it cuts.🤙🤙🤙

Thank you, Ian Foster and team. You are still champs for this World Cup despite the referee and TMO. You've proven to all teams that only All Blacks can play with 14 and still make a close game that could've been yours. Im proud 👏 I dont know how people can still criticize him after but Ian is the best coach for this season after all that.

I would like to appreciate ABs for job well done from a Bokke fan 😢❤🫂🫂🤝🏽👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️very proud of you even if we did lose would hurt of cause but ruther we loose from all mighty KIWI'S 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

I think I have to go have a few drinks with my Irish mates and go swimming in the collective tears 😂 lol Well done to the mighty bokkies Warriors. 🎉🎉 🎉 🏆 🇿🇦 🏆 🇿🇦 🏆 🇿🇦 🏆 They hung in there and they deserve they win. This was the most competitive World Cup and they deserve the win, the number 1 status and free drinks tonight. That’s for sure. I’m happy with that outcome. All Blacks ultimately played better overall but the the boks hung on and we didn’t get the rub of the green with Barnes calls. I put $2,000 on the bokkies to win in 2019 and won $18,000 (which is why I put $18,000 on the table for the all blacks to win in night) I thought the boks held on but I think this is a game the all blacks lost. Discipline and a few missed kicks. Flip of a coin. My winning record for picking games drops to 88%. I’m happy with that. Big loss and now I’ve got half the money I had before in my TAB account. No regrets though. I’ll stick to the numbers system I have. The boks definitely defied the odds here and truly dug deep. I did make a tiny bit back as I put $100 on Jordan, Jordie, Telea and Beauden Barrett to score a try (Beauden scored) Du Toit was exceptional. He was a sniper on defence. Definitely the man of the match. Kwagga was powerful too. Faf was brilliant. Cheslin was brilliant. Eben was huge. I’ll bite my tongue with speaking of a certain English man’s impact on the game as we can talk about those things for four years and now is time to celebrate for the rainbow nation. What a game. I really enjoyed that one. The boks backline really stood up. With the red card and two yellows, I did think we outplayed the boks to hang on, yet it is certainly not a hard thing for me to celebrate that win. What it means for the country is huge and as I said before, the boks are my second favourite team. The hope and boost of positivity is something I am thrilled with for the peoples of South Africa and I joy in that impact which is more than this game. I actually had to stop myself from cheering when Siya came back on after his yellow card. I love that guy and his journey of recovery is a miracle. He is the spiritual leader of the boks. This one was a hard loss that we had in our hands to take. My heart was happy with that win though. I know it doesn’t make sense but some understand it. Go the bokkies 🇿🇦 🍻 🇳🇿 Enjoy the next few years. Hopefully we meet again in 4 years. What a game. Wow. So grateful to even be having this chat. Cheers 🍻

It was a game to be wacth thats how sport should, giving excitement. Fight loosing, fight winning, as South African bok support, much respect for the blacks players and couch, they are challenging and tuff to be beat.