Just a fortnight after his team beat Ireland in the first Test, a shattered Sam Cane stood at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday night, apologizing to fans.
It was a scenario few could have imagined after the All Blacks convincingly defeated Ireland 42-19 on July 2 in the first game of a three-game series at Eden Park in Auckland.
But an exciting comeback from Ireland, the next two tests in Dunedin and Wellington, resulted in Cane delivering a message to supporters after the All Blacks failed to win the series decider in the capital.
“We’re damn sorry we couldn’t deliver the performance you deserved,” Cane said in an interview with Sky Sport.
As disappointed All Blacks supporters left Sky Stadium after Ireland won 32-22 to claim the series 2-1, a dejected Cane and his fellow All Blacks were forced to watch frantic Irish fans celebrate their team’s victory .
After trailing Ireland 22-3 at halftime, the All Blacks roared back to close the gap to 3 points as Ardie Savea, Akira Ioane and Will Jordan scored tries but lacked the firepower to take the Irish to the straight. piece to close.
A bid to try Irish substitute hooker Rob Herring in the 64th minute gave the tourists the impetus they needed to take a famous win.
“We are extremely disappointed,” Cane added. “We didn’t put the performance we wanted so badly in front of some pretty awesome fans.
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Captain Sam Cane and his fellow All Blacks show their disappointment after the 32-22 loss to Ireland in Wellington on Saturday night. Ireland won the series 2-1.
“But we can’t take anything from Ireland. They have been excellent in recent weeks. As I said, they were too good for us tonight and we have some work to do.”
Ireland is now preparing to leave New Zealand at a high level after recovering from a loss to the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton in the first week of their tour, to take on the same foe in Wellington on Tuesday.
The All Blacks have now lost four of their last five tests. Prior to the series loss to Ireland, they suffered defeats to Ireland and France last November.
The sight of loose forward Peter O’Mahony crying after the win in the series emphasized how much this meant to the Irish.
“Huge respect for Ireland,” Cane added. “They were class. They deserved their win tonight.”
All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who, despite his contract until next year’s World Cup, is now under pressure to convince a demanding rugby crowd that he is the right man to keep the lead, told Sky Sport that his team is paid a high price for a new slow start.
“There’s no question about that,” Foster said. “We talked about a stronger start, it didn’t happen.
“Ireland was a bit clinical, and again some defensive errors (from the All Blacks). But really proud of the effort in that second half where we came back.
“But each time we just managed to get a little momentum or we’d turn the ball around, or they’d earn a penalty. They showed their class and were a tough team to crack. You can’t make a team 22 give -3 start.”