New Zealand lose rugby Test series to South Africa in the US
New Zealand’s national rugby team lost a four-match Test series to South Africa after a 28-43 defeat in the final game in Baltimore, United States. As Channel NewsAsia reports, the New Zealand team won the first match of the series but lost the following three.
New Zealand coach’s assessment
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie said his team is moving in the right direction in preparation for the World Cup, which Australia will host next year. According to him, the New Zealanders scored 17 tries over four matches, while their defence generally performed well.
Rennie noted that the opponents’ statistical indicators in the final Test were very close, but the South Africans made better use of their opportunities. He added that late in the game, the New Zealanders tried to fight back, which created additional pressure for themselves.
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South Africa retain top ranking
South Africa’s national team, the reigning world champion, retained first place in the world rankings and won the series. Rennie called the South African team a benchmark for New Zealand and highlighted its experience. He also said that the opponent improved throughout the tour.
Upcoming matches
In November, New Zealand will play in the Nations Championship, where it will contest Tests against Scotland, Wales and England. At the World Cup, the New Zealanders will begin their campaign with a match against Chile on 2 October in Perth.
