'Absolutely gutted' Kiwis coach's unflinching call

2 years ago 84

New Zealand manager Michael Maguire says he's "absolutely gutted" aft the Kiwis' decision to Australia but insists the spread betwixt the 2 heavyweights has "closed immensely".

Maguire fought disconnected tears arsenic helium fielded questions pursuing the Kiwis' 16-14 semi-final nonaccomplishment to the Kangaroos astatine Leeds' Elland Road connected Saturday greeting (AEDT).

The erstwhile Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs mentor was near to rue a brace of denied Peta Hiku tries, arsenic good arsenic unspeakable lapses successful defence from Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, which resulted successful a Cameron Murray four-pointer.

The archetypal Hiku effort was rejected due to the fact that Jordan Rapana was deemed to person been disconnected broadside erstwhile Jahrome Hughes kicked the ball, portion the 2nd was turned down due to the fact that the centre planted the footy connected the interaction in-goal line.

"There is simply a just spot of emotion astatine the moment," Maguire said arsenic helium stewed connected the result.

"Moments successful games — they triumph you Test matches. Unfortunately we conscionable didn't capitalise connected a mates of them determination wherever we really had it. We conscionable couldn't negociate it.

"I've got truthful overmuch content successful our players.

"We had it successful either of the corners. It could person been. But unluckily for america contiguous it conscionable wasn't to be."

Australia is present conscionable 80 minutes distant from securing its 3rd World Cup rubric successful succession, pursuing its 2013 and 2017 triumphs.

The last volition spot the Kangaroos conscionable the victor of England and Samoa, who are acceptable to collide successful the 2nd semi-final astatine The Emirates Stadium successful London from 1.30am connected Sunday (AEDT).

"One happening that I bash cognize that the boys person done (is) they've closed the gap. They've closed the spread betwixt wherever we've been and wherever we are arsenic a radical now," Maguire said.

Murray splits done successful baffling moment

"It could person gone our mode but unluckily conscionable the bounce of the shot determination (didn't spell our way). Right successful that corner, close there, it was there.

"So the spread betwixt the teams, I believe, has closed immensely, and we've conscionable got to support pushing guardant and adjacent it adjacent more."

Maguire's men took a 14-10 buffer into half-time but surrendered their pb erstwhile Nathan Cleary converted the brushed Murray try.

In their last attacking play, Hughes enactment up a footwear from near to close successful the 80th minute, but Latrell Mitchell defused it.

"I'm truly arrogant of my players," Maguire said.

"It's gutting. I'm conscionable perfectly gutted for my players due to the fact that (of) the magnitude of enactment they've been doing for a agelong play of time. They've been truthful devoted ... to capable to alteration the jersey to a amended spot — I judge they person done that.

"We didn't get the effect that we would person liked, but ... they're getting better, the boys.

"One happening astir a batch of the boys: they're really the champion players wrong their clubs and the much they get of that and the much large games similar this we play, the acquisition comes and the bounce of that shot volition spell our way."

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