Arise ‘The Unbeatables’ – New Zealand hails its heroes
All Blacks complete a perfect season, but there is hope for their rivals
New Zealand media on Tuesday dubbed the 2013 All Blacks “The Unbeatables” after they completed a perfect season, but acknowledged their rivals were closing the gap ahead of the next World Cup.
The tone was more relieved than triumphant after the New Zealanders snatched a 24-22 result over a desperately unlucky Ireland to record 14 wins from 14 and become the first international side in the professional era to win every single test in a calendar year.
They will know they are not as far ahead of their challengers as it appears. For three weeks running they have been rattled in Europe
Rather than hail the dazzling skills of Steve Hansen’s men, pundits praised his side’s mental toughness in clawing back a 19-0 deficit at Lansdowne Road to keep their record unblemished.
The Dominion Post labelled it “the great escape” and said New Zealand’s rivals would feel encouraged in the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup in England, when the All Blacks will seek to win the trophy on foreign soil for the first time.
“France, England and now Ireland will all have told themselves they are only an adjustment or two from being right up there with the best team,” it said.
The New Zealand Herald produced a wraparound poster of the team topped with a banner headline reading “The Unbeatables: The Perfect 2013 All Blacks”, although it conceded that it was “a perfect season clinched with [an] imperfect performance”.
“They will know they are not as far ahead of their challengers as it appears. For three weeks running they have been rattled in Europe,” it said.