Ian Foster's reaction to the loss

ON-FIELD REACTION

Ian Foster, New Zealand head coach

On his team’s performance:

“It was obviously a tight game. At half-time both teams were right in it. I thought they squeezed us in that second half and we struggled to really get a lot of momentum.

"When we did get down there we created some opportunities but we weren’t quite good enough. It was a see-sawing game, but you’ve got to take your hat off to them. In the third quarter they really squeezed us with possession.”

On late absence of captain Sam Cane:

“He put his back out in yesterday’s captain run, just lifting someone from kick-off, so we looked at him this morning and he wasn’t quite right so that’s why we made the change.”

On New Zealand’s discipline:

“I think the discipline wasn’t too bad. They earned a few penalties from us at the breakdown, we knew they were going to be good there. But there’s enough in there going forward. This was always going to be a big game.

"Playing France here in the opening game was pretty special but they were just a bit too good. We’ve got to find another pathway for us now."