New Zealand television and radio broadcaster Mike Hosking has called on New Zealanders not to panic with the All Blacks latest loss and insists that the world champions are still the best team in world rugby.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen conceded that Ireland were now the ‘best team’ in the world following the game with Joe Schmidt’s side now winning two of their last three games against the two-time defending world champions.
The New Zealand view has largely been congratulatory to Ireland with Radio New Zealand’s Jamie Wall noting that the All Blacks were “out-thought, out-played and out-done” while Gregor Paul, writing for The New Zealand Herald, praised Ireland’s bravery and creativity, but Hosking insists that New Zealand are still the team to beat in world rugby.
Writing in the Herald, Hosking noted:
“No one likes to see the All Blacks lose – but if you’re going to lose, one: you want to lose in a game to remember.
“Two: You want to lose to a side that most would argue were the better team.
“Three: You want to lose to a side that were seen as genuine respectable contenders going in.
“Four: You want to lose to a side that represents a region that is closing what has been regarded as a chasm, in terms of talent.
“Five: You want to lose because globally it’s good for the game, especially going into a World Cup year.”
He continued:”So for the All Blacks let’s be sensible about this. No it’s not the way you want to end the year, and no, two losses isn’t a great season.
But we are still, game in, game out, the best side in the world. I’d still back us to win the World Cup.
And I would not be, beyond the bounds of some regular retrospective investigation as to what we need to work on to improve, remotely worried about next year.”
New Zealand media pay James Ryan the highest possible compliment
Paul Cully of Stuff also singled out Ireland second-row James Ryan for huge praise and noted that former World Player of the Year Brodie Retallick now has a rival for the right to be called the best lock in world rugby.
“The giant has been felled – quite literally in the 13th minute when James Ryan and Devin Toner combined to smack Retallick back two metres. Ryan was superb. He carried relentlessly, suggesting his engine is equal to Retallick’s V8, and it was fitting that the final mistake came from a weary Retallick.
“For now, the baton of world’s best has been passed to Ryan.”
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