All Blacks defeats are so rare they make it their duty to learn from them | Andy Bull

Jul 02, 2017

The days of New Zealand going into mourning after any defeat are over – they see it as a chance for their team to grow and to come back stronger

Twenty-three All Blacks woke with the strangest feelings on Sunday morning. It was not their aching bodies, the sprains, strains, and bruises, stiff shoulders, throbbing legs, sore chests – all that was familiar enough. They expect nothing less after a Test. But another, more novel, sensation, altogether more painful. Defeat.

Their captain, Kieran Read, is about to play his 100th game. In the past 99, he has experienced this 11 times. His mate Sam Whitelock, who has won more caps at lock than any other All Black, has lost seven. Beauden Barrett, who just won his 50th cap, four. On Sunday we asked their loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett how many Tests he had lost. “Two,” he said, quick as a shot. Crockett has played 61 games.

Tags: Australia sport British & Irish Lions Lions tour 2017 New Zealand rugby union team Rugby union Sport Steve Hansen Warren Gatland