Sam Cane acknowledged that the disappointment of his expensive ejection in his team’s narrow loss to South Africa in the World Cup final is something he will carry with him indefinitely.

During the match between South Africa and New Zealand, the captain of the latter team was ejected from the game after a review from the bunker showed he had committed a high tackle on Jesse Kriel. At the time of the incident, South Africa was leading 9-3 and went on to extend their lead by six points. Despite being down to 14 players, the All Blacks put up a fight in the second half and managed to score a try through Beauden Barrett. However, they ultimately fell just short of victory with a final score of 12-11 in favor of South Africa.

In summary, South Africa has made history by winning the World Cup for the fourth time, making them the second team to successfully defend their title after New Zealand in 2015. The Springboks narrowly won the game with four penalties from Handré Pollard, continuing their streak of winning knockout matches by one point.

Cane expressed his current emotional state as filled with pain. He struggled to articulate his feelings, as the hurt is overwhelming. Despite this, he takes pride in the team’s resilience and determination. This speaks highly of their collective character. He acknowledges the strong bond and dedication within the All Blacks team. However, there is also a sense of sadness and disappointment in the locker room, which is difficult to cope with. Cane knows that this loss will stay with him indefinitely.

South Africa’s leader, Siya Kolisi, received a yellow card in the 45th minute for a high tackle on Ardie Savea. However, the call was not changed, causing the All Blacks’ coach, Ian Foster, to express his disappointment with the inconsistency. Foster stated, “I do not want the focus to be on red cards. It is what it is. There will be time to analyze this. Cane showed an intent to wrap, while there was not much force in the contact. On the other hand, the hit on Ardie was forceful and directly targeted the head. The game has some issues that need to be addressed. This is not me being a sore loser. We have two different situations with different factors, resulting in one being a red card and the other a yellow card. That is the nature of the game.”

Kolisi, one of the ten players who started in the final and helped South Africa win in 2019 against England, praised the people of his country after their intense victory. He stated, “In the last World Cup, we were just hoping to win, but this time, people were expecting it.” Kolisi acknowledged the challenges facing South Africa and expressed his team’s importance as a symbol of unity and determination. He also recognized the efforts of those who came before him to pave the way for players like himself, and he sees it as his responsibility to continue to push the team to reach its full potential and inspire others.

Those who are not from South Africa may not comprehend the significance this holds for our nation. It is more than just a game – our country faces numerous challenges. We are thankful to have the opportunity to be present here. To the people of South Africa, I want to express my sincere gratitude.

Source: theguardian.com