The All Blacks have claimed bronze at the Rugby World Cup but a stunning gesture after the game has stunned the Kiwis' departing coach.
New Zealand have finished the World Cup with the bronze after brushing aside Wales 40-17 to finish the 2019 tournament with a positive result.
Neither side was looking too forward to the match with an open style throughout the game after both teams lost their semi-finals last week and are set to watch the World Cup final from the stands.
The haka, which has blown up throughout the tournament with Ireland challenging it with fans singing over the top of the war dance, only for New Zealand to punish the side, before England got the better of the All Blacks in the semi final after their V challenge.
But Wales were much more respectful, linking arms as New Zealand delivered an emotional haka with four players set to leave the jersey behind.
Stream England v South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final on KAYO SPORTS. Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Captain Kieran Read, who will move to Japanese Rugby, led the haka solo, as he usually shares the honour with TJ Perenara.
Winger Ben Smith and midfield pair Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty are also set to move on from the All Blacks set up as the next generation of players comes in.
The haka has been performed by the All Blacks since 1888.
But the match never rose to any great heights with both sides need to get through the match to finish off the tournament but opened up with some attacking rugby.
After the match, the emotion was raw with so many stakeholders set to walk away from their teams, including both coaches.
In the post-match interviews, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was floored as the crowd cheered with a defining applause.
After 15 years in the top job and winning two World Cups (2011 as assistant coach and 2015 as head coach), when the crowd quietened down enough for him to respond, the departing coach simply answered "It's just a privilege".
🗣 "One bad day, you lose a game and you miss out."@AllBlacks coach Steve Hansen discusses the win tonight which secured the Bronze in an emotional and heartfelt interview🥉#RWC2019 #NZLvWAL #RWCTokyo pic.twitter.com/2sBJZ7zo6k
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 1, 2019
Lovely moment as the cheers of the fans stops Steve Hansen's interview in his tracks. How's the All Blacks journey been for him?
— Jack de Menezes (@JackdeMenezes) November 1, 2019
"Just a privilege. Thank you"#NZLvWAL
Read was also interviewed post-match and was asked what it means to him to be in the All Blacks jersey.
Holding the emotion back, Read said
"This jersey means a lot," he said. "It's been part of my life for a long time. For me it dictates that you try and leave it in a better place than you found it. That was my aim for my entire career and hopefully I've done that."
Kieran Read and Steve Hansen share a moment after their final match with the @AllBlacks.#NZLvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/7a3xBTFILp
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 1, 2019
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who ends his 12-year tenure with Wales to return to his native New Zealand and coach the Chiefs in the Super Rugby but has presided over one of the most successful periods in Welsh rugby history with three Triple Crowns, three Grand Slams and four Six Nations triumphs.
"That's era's over now but I'm excited about the next challenge now of going back to New Zealand and being involved with the Chiefs," he said.
The long drought continues for Wales against New Zealand. ABs were determined to bounce back after SF loss. Won’t be the same without Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland at the helm of NZ and Wales. We’re back again tomorrow for the Decider .. England V South Africa on @FOXRUGBY
— Greg Clark (@greg_clarkie) November 1, 2019
Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen depart their roles with Wales and New Zealand leaving unrivalled legacies and huge shoes to fill. Incredible shifts. #RWC2019
— Tom Hamilton (@tomhamiltonespn) November 1, 2019
SCORES
Third-place playoff - New Zealand 40-17 Wales
A try with five minutes left has wrapped up the game and third place for New Zealand as Richie Mo'unga crossed the line.
It made it 40-17 and handed the All Blacks the bronze medal.
It also helps farewell the likes of Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty and Ben Smith as well as coach Steve Hansen.
The second half had barely started before the All Blacks were on the board again.
A try to Ryan Crotty after Sonny Bill Williams found him on the inside gave the All Blacks the 35-10 lead.
The All Blacks have increased the lead back to 11 after Wales responded to the early onslaught.
A try and then a penalty goal made it 14-10 before Ben Smith cut through the line.
The retiring winger was running to the left but cut to the right to leave Wales looking silly as he scored his 38th try for New Zealand – passing Jonah Lomu.
A try after the half time whistle game him his 39th try, giving Smith sole possession of sixth place all-time for the All Blacks.
It's also seen New Zealand hold a 28-10 lead at the break.
The Kiwis are scoring a point a minute after 14 minutes, having scored a second try through fullback Beauden Barrett.
After getting the ball from Aaron Smith, Barrett cut back on the inside and straight over the line to make it 14-0.
Wales hit back through through their fullback Hallam Amos to make it 14-7.
The All Blacks look like they're in a mood and aptly, front rower Joe Moody has streaked away for the first try of the night.
The All Blacks had seen the first penalty of the night clang off the post before the prop went over for the first try of the night.
The haka is under threat as the latest critic laid the boot in.
The All Blacks war dance has been the target of criticism throughout the World Cup after Irish rugby writer Ewan MacKenna wrote a column saying “the haka gives New Zealand an unfair advantage and needs to stop”.
Even a Kiwi journo has lashed the famous act.
New Zealand Herald sports writer Chris Rattue has made a sensational call for the All Blacks to drop the haka after England appeared to get a mental edge from standing up to the traditional dance, saying it stole their “initial focus and proper concentration of energy”.
Now one of New Zealand's most fervent critics has called for the end of the haka as The Times' columnist Stephen Jones called it "bogus" and "bullying".
"The haka has long been partly bonkers," Jones wrote in his column for The Times. "It is now interminable; it takes up ages with the other team freezing. It is now a means of rank bullying on and off the field, and has become a posing strut rather than a tribute to the Māori heritage in New Zealand.
"The idea is clear. The All Blacks want to make a ringing pre-match statement; they want it all to be their way just as teams would occasionally delay their entry onto the field to make the away team sweat a little. The haka is as much part of the pre-match bullying ritual as any inter-coach war of words.
"And New Zealand will always find a way to be affronted by the reaction of opponents. Should the opposition simply trot away to near their own line, the All Blacks would chase them to perform it under their noses. The opposition must behave exactly as New Zealand want them to: Advance, retreat, smile, scowl. All wrong, sorry.
"These days, I grant you that kids and those easily pleased still look forward to the haka almost as eagerly as they do the match itself. When they all grow up, they will realise that what the haka conveys these days is utterly bogus."
Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh declares the 2027 Rugby World Cup at home the Wallabies’ chance for redemption, as Melbourne misses out on blockbuster games.
Sydney is the big winner in the battle between Australian states to host matches at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
England’s World Cup winner is struggling to remember crucial moments of his life and family as he deals with dementia and CTE.