Ronan O'Gara: Losing is hard. Dealing with it is even harder

South Africa's assistant coach Mzwandile Stick (R on the bus) waves at supporters during the Springboks Champions trophy tour in Johannesburg on November 2, 2023, after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final match against New Zealand. Pic: Emmanuel CROSET / AFP

NEW Zealand have formally queried some of Wayne Barnes’ key refereeing decisions in the World Cup final, an interesting if rather un-All Black road to travel. The pain for Ian Foster, his management team and squad of players is at a level this columnist, or few of our readers, can imagine, but I am about to have a go at anyway.

Last Sunday evening, I walked, numb, to my car outside La Rochelle’s Stade Marcel Deflandre to start the process of, well, processing, a 24-27 home defeat to Castres, having led 14-3. I sat in the car, stewing, having a right good sulk for myself. I had Monday to calm down before a nice video review session Tuesday morning.