Auckland: The Australians were sour but elsewhere there was high praise for the All Blacks’ world-record winning streak, with suggestions their unbeaten run is far from over.
The reigning world champions downed the Wallabies 37-10 in Auckland on Saturday to set a record for top-tier nations of 18 consecutive victories.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen felt his Australian opposite Michael Cheika hijacked celebrations with a withering outburst targeting the referee, the news media and claiming the New Zealanders did not respect his Wallabies.
But Cheika was in the minority for not congratulating the All Blacks on their historic achievement.
“The All Blacks march on, fallible for sure, but buoyed by the self-assurance greatness bestows,” wrote Paul Rees in London’s Observer.
“The best, it is hard not to suspect, is yet to come.”
London’s Telegraph noted that less than a year after becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups “with a much-changed line-up, Steve Hansen’s side bolstered their claim to being the greatest ever rugby team”.
Among the flood of tributes for the All Blacks’ unprecedented winning streak were tweets of congratulations from both the Irish Rugby Union and the British and Irish Lions.
The All Blacks need to win their next seven Tests, which include two against Ireland and three against the Lions, if they are to break the outright record of 24 Tests held by Cyprus who compete in the European Nations Cup division 2B.
“Great contest from both sides. Congratulations @AllBlacks on your achievement,” the Lions tweeted.
“@All Blacks Congratulations on an incredible winning run,” added Ireland who play New Zealand in Chicago and Dublin next month.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick expected the winning sequence to continue, tweeting: “I suspect there will be a few more added 2 the total by this outstanding team”.
Former Wallaby Stirling Mortlock tweeted that the All Blacks were “#toogood” while South African cricket great Allan Donald added: “Simply have to applaud the way these men play there (sic) rugby.”
The All Blacks, meanwhile, named two new players Sunday for next month’s northern tour and included three Barrett brothers in their travelling squad as they look to extend their record unbeaten streak.
The 36-man squad to play Tests in the United States, Italy, Ireland and France, also includes the return of disgraced scrum-half Aaron Smith.
A day after beating Australia 37-10 to set a new benchmark for a top-tier team of 18 consecutive victories, coach Steve Hansen said the northern tour was a chance to extend the record.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to build on what we’ve done so far, going into a new environment. The northern hemisphere’s a totally different place to play rugby,” he said when naming the touring party.
“It will challenge us and ask us to grow our game in ways, and will give us the opportunity to continue to blend this group of young talent with the more experienced group. This will allow our game to continue to improve.”
The uncapped All Blacks are Otago Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman and 19-year-old Rieko Ioane, who has graduated from the New Zealand Olympic sevens team.
Jordie Barrett, the 19-year-old younger brother of 46-Test fly-half Beauden Barrett, has been named as an “apprentice” to experience the pressures of being an All Black.
