ABs aim to sign off in style
Aaron Smith says the All Blacks began the worst week of their rugby careers with each squad member having his say during a brutally honest review session.
Now they are hoping to cap it off with a win over Wales in the World Cup bronze medal match at Tokyo Stadium tonight.
Victory over Wales won’t heal the mental wounds created by England during the 19-7 defeat in the semifinal last weekend, but it will be a start.
The Webb Ellis Cup may have gone west, and it will be in England or South Africa’s possession by the end of the weekend, but the All Blacks will know they will do coach Steve Hansen, captain Kieran Read and a clutch of other players a disservice if they send them out on a bum note.
‘‘There was a lot of pain there, there was a lot of honesty,’’ halfback Smith said. ‘‘You had grown men pouring their hearts out and that is showing real massive vulnerability.
‘‘Whether that would have happened a while back, maybe not. But I know coach [Steve
Aaron Smith
Hansen) pushes it pretty hard in leadership meetings.’’
While the All Blacks have reviews after every game, the one held after the loss to England would have been a doozy.
Having been outplayed in all departments, the All Blacks were forced to reflect on four years of hard work being swept away in less than two hours.
Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty,
ALL BLACKS
WALES
Sonny Bill Williams and Matt Todd are also retiring from the New Zealand rugby scene after this game; all are understood to be heading overseas.
The All Blacks have prided themselves on being a tight group during the tournament and their disappointment at being unable to claim the title three-peat has been evident this week.
For Smith, 30, there is at least a chance he could be around to play in another World Cup.
His contract with NZ Rugby won’t expire until the end of 2021, but his short-term focus is to ensure the All Blacks’ winning streak against Wales, which reaches back to 1953, remains intact.
Hansen has retained Smith and Richie Mo’unga as his inside back combination, and while the pair will hope their forwards can get on the front foot and win clean possession there will also be an expectation that the duo can lift their games.
‘‘I’m really proud of our boys to show the emotion they did,’’ Smith said as he reflected on a week where grown men shed tears.
‘‘A lot of people won’t know what was seen in the changing room, or what we did on Monday and how honest we are to each other and with each other.
‘‘To sometimes be that honest in a tough situation is hard to take, but we all did it. And probably left the room feeling a lot better. Not happy, but better.’’
Hansen hasn’t wanted to talk about himself this week, but said he expects his team to do all they can to salvage their pride at Tokyo Stadium.
Rather than getting caught up in chat about his duel with Wales coach Warren Gatland, who guided the British and Irish Lions to a series draw in New Zealand in 2017 and may seek the All Blacks job after he takes the Lions to South Africa in 2021, Hansen urged his side to prove it can respond under pressure.
‘‘It’s easy to have character when you win all the time because it’s not tested. Our character has been tested this week. The most important thing we can do is – if your character is tested, we can stand up to it.’’
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