Worst All Black RWC exits
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95 for me - although they all suck. Saffa's were still the enemy as far as I was concerned brought up on a diet of disappointments on the high veldt and cheating refs. We were playing awesome rugby. I had counted my chickens and had champagne on ice and there was Louis Luyt.
On a personal level 91. I was on my way back to NZ after 13 years away and arrived in Sydney on the day of the game and watched it with a bunch of Aussies at some party I got dragged to. They were poor winners.
07 was unbelievable. There was a degree of hubris as I had laughed so much at the Aussies a couple of hours earlier. We had looked so good and then it all came crashing down.
03 - expected but the manner of the defeat hurt. We were a shit team, selected and coached badly.
99 - also expected. 98 was too fresh to have any misconceptions. Again a poorly selected and coached squad.
19 - not expected but not unexpected. Parallels with 91 in some ways but the squad were way more likeable. I think we just hoped Shag would pull a rabbit out of the hat and he almost did. Was sanguine about the result although the result in the Final has led to a bit more sould searching.
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2007 hurt most because that team was streets ahead of everyone else in World rugby. Witness what they did to Frogs year before. And as someone said the other day, under current protocols (TMO) that travesty wouldn't have occurred. Had tickets for semi's and final and parents over, with hotel in Paris next to AB hotel. Went anyway.
99 Great game for neutrals, but that game was in the bag until the ABs disintegrated under pressure in last 20, which was deeply saddening. Don't think we'd have beaten Oz in final, though.
03 Step down in angst. We were a better team than Oz and had monstered then in Sydney. Big swing with Merlin intercept. We had started to get on top early in second when Ben Darwin's neck gave way. We lost all momentum after that. England deserved to be champions.
19 I'd probably have ranked this higher, but sting taken off by winning previous two. Contrary to what some have suggested, I think ABs have played best rugby at RWC and I think would beat both Boks and Poms two out of three. We got bashed a bit, but soaked up the punishment and had we taken our opportunities we'd have won that.
91 Was interviewed on Welsh TV after match and said both good teams, but Oz just a little better at everything. They were worthy champs.
95 Being part of the atmosphere before the game, and what it meant for a troubled nation, I couldn't help thinking, 'It wouldn't be the end of the world if we lost this one'. Draw on usual measures. ABs best team, but no rancour for me.
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1 - 1999. Still hard to fathom how we capitulated so badly in a second half like that.
2 - 1995. A very close second. I thought we were the most talented team at that World Cup with the right mix of youth and experience, x-factor, skill and calm heads.
3 - 2007. Argh
4 - 2003. Evil Wizard. We didn’t need look ready for it.
=5 - 1991 / 2019. Whilst disappointing, both not unexpected in the context of prep, how we played and some selections.
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Worst exits for me are the ones where we heavily contributed to our failure more so than outside factors.
On thinking about it I find it hard to separate 1999, 2003 and 2019 as "we" contributed as much to our downfall through our own stupidity.
1999 - We had the best fullback in the world at centre and the probably the best right wing not doing a very good job at fullback.
2003 - Our coaches weakened our pack with their stupid no rucking comments and then our pack tanked in the big match they needed to perform in.
2019 - TBH, I get more annoyed the more I think about this, although as I called it out before the match I'm probably slightly biased. We've all been pussy footing around, we cocked up and lost a match we should have won with poor selection.1991 - I was gutted by this but we were a little bit over the hill and missing MJ in the crucial Oz match. I rewatched it again recently and confirmed my memories that we weren't as bad as some think and JK was opening them up at will.
1995 - I think the passage of time and the food poisoning (not commenting on whether was deliberate or not) have lessened how distraught I feel over this loss.
2007 - Forward pass, no second half penalties, both 10s injured out of the game - this was almost a perfect storm, although we still have had a team decision to set for a drop goal.
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1999 was the worst exit in terms of actual play on the field - we were up 24-10 early in the second half and then just an absolute capitulation to leak 33 points to a French team we'd beaten by 50 earlier in the season. For a while we were just kicking off, conceding points and kicking off again. To borrow from Willie Watson - playing in the highlights.
Probably the worst half of All Black rugby ever.
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I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
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@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
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2007 hurt the most ,
2019 probably pissed me off the most , there wasnt that much emotion like the rest , but annoyed me , not so much watching it , but kicked in the next day and onwards , thought we were dumb, and soft
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@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
Well that is a tad hyperbolic to be fair,and its easier to accept as you age. I put the last semi exit down to the ferocious Poms and how well they played. Theres been instances of AB teams exiting down to how badly they played but this recent one,im more accepting.
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@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
Well that is a tad hyperbolic to be fair,and its easier to accept as you age. I put the last semi exit down to the ferocious Poms and how well they played. Theres been instances of AB teams exiting down to how badly they played but this recent one,im more accepting.
whooooosh.
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@Kruse said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
Well that is a tad hyperbolic to be fair,and its easier to accept as you age. I put the last semi exit down to the ferocious Poms and how well they played. Theres been instances of AB teams exiting down to how badly they played but this recent one,im more accepting.
whooooosh.
In jokes everywhere around here
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@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@Kruse said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
Well that is a tad hyperbolic to be fair,and its easier to accept as you age. I put the last semi exit down to the ferocious Poms and how well they played. Theres been instances of AB teams exiting down to how badly they played but this recent one,im more accepting.
whooooosh.
In jokes everywhere around here
Newbies, huh?
You got to lurk for a couple of years, before ever posting. Learn the in-jokes and context. Just common sense.
Edit... I used the term “fluffybunnies” in a chat off-Fern last week. Confusion ensued. -
@Kruse said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@Kruse said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@canefan said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
@geebee said in Worst All Black RWC exits:
I have to rate 07 as worse than 99 based on the fact that in 99 the All Blacks just ran into a team that played like they were on roids in the 2nd half. They just had too much pace. Im quite happy to credit the French that day. It was like Nantes 86 but worse.lol
All of them are pretty bad,its like reliving going to the dentist.
Hold on a minute, it's not that bad!
Well that is a tad hyperbolic to be fair,and its easier to accept as you age. I put the last semi exit down to the ferocious Poms and how well they played. Theres been instances of AB teams exiting down to how badly they played but this recent one,im more accepting.
whooooosh.
In jokes everywhere around here
Newbies, huh?
You got to lurk for a couple of years, before ever posting. Learn the in-jokes and context. Just common sense.
Edit... I used the term “fluffybunnies” in a chat off-Fern last week. Confusion ensued.Just gotta keep your head down, watch listen and learn who runs the asylum
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07 for me - only QF exit, poor refereeing, just painful.
91 wasn't unexpected after barely retaining the Bledisloe Cup.
95 didn't expect anything after we lost a home series to France in 94.
99 was poor, we had that in hand and then collapsed, so that's second worse for me.
03 was just unlucky with the wizard Mortlock.
07 F...
19 got outclassed so that's probably 3rd worse.
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I think 07 hurts the most because there were so many factors. That is the game which has the most "if only's". We were the best team going into that tournament and the semis and finals were both shit. I think 2003 and 1991 both hurt the least (although I am too young to remember 91. Even if we won those games, we probably would have lost in the finals to better teams. In 1995 we have the best excuse, so that one doesn't hurt as much either.
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If not for the repeat cup wins of 11 and 15, 2019 could rank much higher. We beat the Boks with stout defence and enough lethal attack in the pool game. We destroyed Ireland in the QF by attacking the heart of their perceived strengths, leaving them with no chance. We abandon the QF game plan and play Globetrotters rugby against England, get knocked down, fail to make any adjustments on field or in the sheds at half time, and suffer an embarrassing loss.
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Yeah went for 2007 but I was actually having a great night that night - I remember 99 as I was living in the capital and the next day it was an absolute ghost town and grim. 2003 I was in Sydney and headed out afterwards for a massively chaotic night, but the sorrows were largely drowned. 95 I was just finishing up college and it was more shock than disappointment.