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Third class

Why youth fell down where age and experience could have risen to the rugby occasion.

By Joseph Romanos In Sport

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6th December, 2003
Sadly, New Zealanders are getting better at accepting rugby World Cup defeats. The unfortunate part isn't that we are becoming better losers, but that we are getting so much practice at it. After New Zealand's capitulation to Australia in the semifinals last month, we must accept that the image of the mighty and indomitable All Blacks is now largely myth. By the next World Cup, in France in 2007, anyone under 30 won't be able to remember clearly a World Cup tournament won by the All Blacks. In assessing the All Blacks' performances this time, I discount the third- place play-off. ...

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