A gutted Dave Rennie and his skipper Codie Taylor searched for positives after the All Blacks’ 3-1 series defeat to the Springboks.
The Kiwis, who kicked off an eight-match tour on 7 August against the Stormers in Cape Town with their first of five successive wins, lost 43-28 in the final Test of the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday.
“Look, I’m gutted,” Rennie told the media. “We were confident that if we got a few things right tonight we’d have a good chance of winning. So disappointing from that perspective.
“From a tour point of view, I said months ago that I was really excited about coming here because we knew it was going to be tough but we’d learn a lot about ourselves.
“We’d leave with a better understanding of our game model and tighter as a group, and we’re definitely in that position.
“The result hurts, but I’m proud of the effort. We probably conceded a little chasing the game late, but with 15 to go we were right in it.”
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The head coach pointed to a strong set-piece from New Zealand, but conceded the aerial battle and the Boks’ clinical edge proved decisive.
“The high ball put us under a bit more heat again tonight. We couldn’t grab a lot of those. Set-piece wise, I thought it was excellent, our scrum and lineout.
“The linebreaks were even tonight. South Africa were very good; they were electric and really clinical when they got their opportunities. That was probably a key point tonight.”
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Taylor, who crashed over for the opening try and first of four for New Zealand, felt fine margins had again decided the outcome.
“We probably created a few more moments in that second half and applied a lot of pressure, but fell short in a few crucial moments in those last three Tests,” the hooker said.
“South Africa are just a bloody good side and they’ll punish you if you give them those opportunities. But there’s so much to be excited and proud of in this group, and this is a good stepping stone for us, especially next year [at the World Cup].”
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He also praised the culture built across the eight-week tour, adding: “We’ve grown as a team off the field. It’s a special team to be part of.
“Everyone’s giving their all each day, and we’re heading in the right direction.
“It’s gutting [to lose the series], but still so proud of the men that we have.”
Photo: Caean Couto/Getty Images
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