‘It wasn’t to be’: Ian Foster’s raw reaction to World Cup final loss

With just seven minutes to play in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final, Jordie Barrett lined up a shot at goal that would’ve given the All Blacks the lead.

Two rugby-mad nations stood still as the sharp-shooting inside centre paused after propping the ball up onto his goal-kicking tee. It was history in the making, and everyone knew it.

Barrett, 26, stepped forward and struck through the ball towards the uprights, but the attempt hooked left in a moment of heartbreak. South Africa still led by one point as time continued to run out for the New Zealanders, and eventually, it did.

South Africa completed their quest for back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles – becoming just the second nation, after New Zealand, to achieve the feat. The Springboks were world champions once again.

But along with Barrett’s kick, the All Blacks have been left to rue what could’ve been. Playmaker Richie Mo’unga missed another tough shot at goal during the second term, and the Kiwis had some golden try-scoring opportunities.

In the end, it just wasn’t to be for the All Blacks.

"It would be wrong to say we had all the chances, they had some chances too. There was a pressure cooker environment. You could see players from both teams making a few errors they wouldn't normally do,” coach Ian Foster said after the final.

“To get ourselves back, score that try, it's disallowed and we get another try. was pretty cool and got us in the game.  We gave ourselves every chance, but it wasn't to be. We are all gutted.

“We so desperately wanted to win this but I am equally proud. The attitude to play there against a mighty team. Every weeks ago the score was a very different score against them. We contributed massively to a very special final full of drama and two teams that put everything on the line."

The All Blacks started the decider with a disastrous yellow card. Flanker Shannon Frizell was sent to the sin bin after just two-and-a-half minutes.

It was just the second card in Rugby World Cup final history – after Ben Smith’s yellow card in 2015 against Australia. But another card was shown about 25 minutes later.

Captain Sam Cane was shown a yellow following a high shot on Boks centre Jesse Kriel. But after an anxious wait and an off-field review, the incident was upgraded to a red.

The All Blacks played 65 minutes of a Rugby World Cup final with 14 men including the brief absence of Frizell, but they managed to stay in the fight.

Coach Foster, who was visibly hurting, emotional and distraught as he frotned the press, summed it up perfectly by saying it was a “heck of a final.”

"Always high emotion both sides of the fence this will be no different. 12-11, I want to congratulate South Africa for what they've achieved. they've shown a lot of character and tenacity throughout this tournament,” Foster told reporters.

“That's three close games they have come out the right side so they are doing something right.

“For us it's heartbreaking and I look at the effort of our team, the way we played and came back and gave ourselves a really good crack at that, the second half, particularly after the red card in the first half and the damage that decision made Overall, incredibly proud of our team but we've got a disappointed shed.”