New Zealand scored 48 tries in five matches and had the best points differential in Rugby World Cup history in 2007, yet they lost the quarter-final to France.
It was an unthinkable All Blacks loss and someone had to take the blame. Coach Graham Henry was one man in the spotlight and he had to convince those conducting a review that he was still the man to lead the All Blacks after so much disappointment.
Henry and his fellow coaching staff shifted the blame to referee Wayne Barnes, reportedly presenting video evidence to a review committee highlighting 17 errors Barnes and his assistants had made during New Zealand’s 18-20 loss.
The key errors in their eyes were the yellow card of Luke McAlister for blocking Yannick Jauzion, failing to spot a forward pass which led to a France try, and New Zealand failing to receive any penalties for the last hour of the match.
Such was the outrage at the time, there was even calls of match-fixing.
Captain Richie McCaw took aim at the IRB for allowing an inexperienced referee to be in charge of such an important match.
However, former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains defended Barnes, saying decisions in the game went both ways and that the team couldn’t blame a few refereeing mistakes for a loss.
Despite calls for Henry’s sacking, he was re-appointed. Henry and his All Blacks delivered four years later, meeting France again, this time in the final at home in New Zealand.
Advertisement
The 8-7 2011 World Cup final win helped put some demons to rest.