All Blacks are not so invincible

New Zealand surpassed a century of points against Portugal in their Pool C encounter at Stade Gerland on Saturday, but then had to admit defeat to their opponents in an impromptu football match.

Juan Pistone writes for the RNS that Bryon Kelleher, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter had been rested for the IRB Rugby World Cup match which New Zealand won 108-13, but were among the All Blacks to challenge the Portuguese to a game of football after the final whistle.

Kelleher turned out as a defender, McCaw in midfield and Carter as a striker, but even with these star-studded names, it was Portugal who emerged as 2-1 winners in the round ball game.

It is nothing new for the non-starting players to train after a match to keep them agile and fit, but mix two teams and a football lying on the side of the pitch and it is a recipe for some impromptu play anywhere in the world… even on rugby’s biggest stage.

Unbreakable spirit

Once the teams’ fitness coaches had released the players into the fray, it was Portugal who dominated the game with Pedro Cabral dribbling the ball, out-manoeuvering Kelleher with some fancy footwork.

However it wasn’t only Cabral that was outshining the All Black football wannabes. McCaw was put to the test by Portuguese counterparts, although Fijian-born Sitiveni Sivivatu demonstrated some untapped talent.

The match ended 2-1 in Portugal’s favour, but the fat lady had not yet sung on the field of football as the two teams had a small break, before reappearing for the next round.

The day had begun in the Stade de Gerland. One side performing the Haka, the other singing a national anthem with the chorus “as armas” (to arms). However beneath it all, the spirit of rugby runs deep.