Former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has stirred controversy by declaring that New Zealand was “robbed” in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa in Paris.
Hansen, who guided the All Blacks to a World Cup victory in 2015, stepped down after the 2019 tournament, where New Zealand finished third following a semi-final loss to England.
The 65-year-old recently revisited the contentious red card issued to All Blacks captain Sam Cane during the final, expressing his view that New Zealand was unlucky in their defeat. Speaking on Martin Devlin’s DSPN podcast, Hansen asserted that poor officiating decisions played a significant role in the outcome.
“This is a team that should have won the World Cup. They were robbed, as far as I’m concerned, due to some poor decisions beyond their control that cost them the title,” Hansen remarked.
His comments sparked widespread debate, with many fans suggesting he is defending his former assistant, Ian Foster, who led the All Blacks in 2023 and now serves as Hansen’s assistant at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.
South African rugby fans were quick to dismiss Hansen’s claims, adding fuel to the already intense rivalry between the two nations. The remarks have also reignited discussions about other controversial World Cup moments, including the All Blacks’ narrow 8-7 victory over France in the 2011 final, which also drew scrutiny.
Additionally, some fans pointed to missed opportunities, particularly crucial failed kicks, as key factors behind New Zealand’s loss to the Springboks in the 2023 final.
