If the players took the defeat with a bit of class and decorum, it seems the same cannot be said for all elements of the New Zealand media.
Mark Watson is the host of a nightly radio phone-in on Newstalk ZB and it sounds like the Kiwi Joe Duffy went off on one on Monday night’s show.
Fair to say Watson was less than impressed with the team selected by Steve Hansen and the attitude of the players before declaring that the 40-29 defeat to Ireland in Chicago will ensure victory against the Lions next year.
Josh van der Flier revealed how magnanimous the All Blacks were in defeat but, make no mistake, the back-to-back World Cup winners will be gunning for revenge in Dublin on Saturday week.
Bleary eyes, weary bodieshttps://t.co/hshlQHRsz4
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 7, 2016
Have a read of, or listen to, what Watson said and then imagine the reaction if his beloved ABs were to lose two on the spin to little old Ireland. His head might implode.
In fairness, he does top the show by saying his opinions are “taking nothing away from Ireland” as he slams the “arrogant New Zealand rugby administration”.
Cheers, Mark.
“Great day for Ireland, not a great day for world rugby,” he began. “And as New Zealanders we shouldn’t have to accept that. Yeah, we want close rugby, but we shouldn’t have to accept that.”
We’re not sure if Watson is suggesting Kiwis should declare the result null and void, or is he calling for the players and coaches to be lynched for losing their first game in 19?
“Forget your 18 consecutive test victories. Half of those were done in 2015. It’s a Meaningless record.”
Even by shock jock standards this is a bit of an overreaction.
“A lot of people will look at this and think ‘The British and Irish Lions is going to be one hell of a series’. Wrong. The worst thing for Warren Gatland happened [on Saturday].
“This is the wake up that New Zealand rugby needed, this is the little reminder New Zealand rugby needed.
“The British and Irish Lions are screwed now, they will get hammered here next year because of what happened in Chicago.”
We hope so for your sake, Mark. Not sure how well you take defeat.
