No punches were pulled at lively post-match meeting

Tokyo – New Zealand icon Sonny Bill Williams (above) said yesterday that the All Blacks players needed “bulletproof vests” during a brutal analysis of their devastating 19-7 World Cup semifinal defeat by England.

The All Blacks suffered only their second loss in 17 games against England, who also ended New Zealand’s remarkable 18-match unbeaten run in the competition, one which had dated back to 2007.

Williams, who has two winner’s medals, revealed that combing through the wreckage of Saturday’s upset by a pumped-up England had stung and that the coaching staff had pulled no punches in a grim post-mortem.

“We went through the review this morning and some of the boys had their bulletproof vests on,” said the hulking centre.

“Now we’ve just got to get on with it.

“It was a little more stressful yesterday with my little one,” added Williams, noting the effect a rare New Zealand failure had on his children. “Didn’t sleep well, she was out of whack.”

New Zealand, who had not lost at the World Cup since France stunned them in the 2007 quarterfinals, face Wales in Tokyo on Friday after the Six Nations champions were beaten 19-16 by South Africa on Sunday.

It is a match nobody really wants to play – but Williams insisted it could prove cathartic for the wounded All Blacks.

“It was a tough night, but there were some lessons,” said the 34-year-old.

Assistant coach Ian Foster, tipped to take over from Hansen before their crushing defeat, echoed the sentiments of Williams as he promised this week’s clash with Wales would mark the start of a healing process.

“It’s a chance to redeem ourselves,” he said. –