Aaron Smith berkata penyingkiran New Zealand daripada saingan Piala Dunia Ragbi kepada England sangat memalukan dirinya sambil bertegas All Blacks tidak boleh dituduh sebagai tidak peduli dengannya.
Juara bertahan dua kali, New Zealand, menyaksikan rekod tanpa kalah dalam saingan Piala Dunia berakhir buat kali pertama sejak 2007.
Skuad kendalian Eddie Jones itu muncul pemenang dengan keputusan 19-7, sekaligus menghantar All Blacks ke perlawanan penentuan pingat gangsa.
Smith, pemain scrum-half All Blacks, menegaskan mereka mengalami kekalahan itu bukan kerana kurang semangat melakar kemenangan, namun membandingkan bilik persalinan New Zealand sama seperti satu upacara pengebumian.
"Saya sangat kecewa dengan keputusan ini," kata Smith. "Anda memiliki keluarga, rakan-rakan yang menghantar pesanan ringkas kepada anda tetapi kami kecewa dengan kekalahan ini.
"Jika New Zealand (negara) berasakan kami tidak bersedih, anda boleh melihat bilik persalinan kami selepas perlawanan, ia seperti satu upacara pengebumian.
"Kami telah berusaha menampilkan aksi garang di atas padang sepanjang musim. Kami telah berlatih dan membuat persiapan sebaik mungkin.
"Tetapi akhirnya, tuah menyebelahi England."
Pemain sayap New Zealand, Sevu Reece, memberi penghormatan kepada England, yang bakal membuat persiapan untuk aksi final Sabtu depan.
"Mereka adalah pasukan yang lebih baik," kata Reece. "Mereka memulakan permainan dengan baik dan berjaya mengawal permainan.
"Kami sudah menjangkakan cabaran sukar daripada England dan saya ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada mereka."
Penulis Jemputan
Sun Oct 27 2019


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