New Zealanders scratch heads over semifinal loss

From politicians to punters, New Zealanders weighed in on the All Blacks World Cup semifinal defeat, with theories ranging from coaching blunders to the curse of Richie McCaw.

The 19-7 loss to England in Yokohama shattered New Zealand’s dream of a third consecutive World Cup and sparked a nationwide analysis of what went wrong.

Many callers to talkback radio suggested the result actually flattered the All Blacks, who started as overwhelming favourites.

“It’s disappointing. We were outplayed. Rugby is our religion and that’s why it hurts,” Canterbury farmer Trevor Bradley said.

Parliamentary opposition leader Simon Bridges best summed up the mood with the one-word tweet “bugger”

— a popular expression in New Zealand to express surprise or frustration.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern took a supportive stance, saying, “it might not have been our night, but this is our team and I’m proud of them”.

The NZ Herald said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had “had a night to forget, quickly” and the surprise decision to play lock Scott Barrett at blindside flanker “did not pay off as expected”. Stuff.co.nz said the World Cup “was as good as lost from the opening kick-off”, pointing to how the All Blacks “started cold and paid an instant price”.

At the Four Kings bar in Wellington, English immigrant Phyllis blamed the All Blacks’ mindset when they took the field. “They needed to try harder, play with more passion like we usually do. We’ve been in New Zealand 24 years; I love New Zealand but tonight I was really proud of England.”

Police feared violence but the only incident was at an English-theme bar in Auckland where the windows of a Mini, bedecked with a Union Jack, were smashed.

Some exasperated fans suggested double World Cup winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could be to blame because he was at the stadium watching. McCaw has a history of being present at events where New Zealanders have not performed up to expectations. “You jinxed us again!” one person wrote on the Stuff.co.nz Facebook page. “The McCaw curse strikes again!!!” said another.

NZ Herald columnist Chris Rattue saw positives, saying it should rejuvenate the game.

“The drive to regain the World Cup stirs more passions than efforts to keep it, and it is from these very sorts of crashes that the All Blacks find new gears,” he wrote.