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This has been a nightmarish few hours for everyone at home and for those who are over here in Cardiff.
The thousands of All Black fans who have virtually taken over the Welsh capital are at a loss to understand what has happened. Many I have spoken to this morning had tried to drown their sorrows after the match, but on waking they were devastated to find that this had not been a nightmare.
The atmosphere here is a far cry from 36 hours ago.Then the good natured Kiwis flooded the street, shops, restaurants and bars of Cardiff. They were singing. There were smiles amidst the positive expectation.
Some of them even cheered for England in the first quarter final match and many were delighted when the Wallabies were knocked out.
"That's made it easier for us!" was a familiar cry.
It was a fantastic walk to the Millennium Stadium. Many of the group I am with had never been to a game there and were in high spirits as they sat and absorbed the atmosphere. All was wonderful in the land of rugby...for a while.
I have previously written that I expected the All Blacks to unleash their full attacking arsenal in this game. All the messing around with the Pool matches had done nothing but get the fuse smouldering. It was ready to ignite.
Well I was wrong.
Superb innovation
I had believed the rotation policy was a superb innovation which had developed incredible depth in this team- a policy which every other international coach was envious of and was copying madly. I still believe that, but my unbending belief that this would also assist the All Blacks to win the World Cup has been shattered.
Depth is wonderful. If someone gets injured it is a bonus if the replacement has had lots of experience. The All Blacks have that advantage, but those who argued for more intense buildup matches might be justified.
The players themselves felt they were ready for this. I believe them.
They say they expected the French to be incredibly tough opponents. I believe them.
But after four years of plotting and planning and winning almost all of their games, the vital ingredient was still missing. They were not mentally on top of this game which really mattered.
They tried their hardest. Nobody played poorly, but as a team they have performed much, much better under trying circumstances.
After ten minutes of the second spell, I muttered to one of my companions that the All Blacks looked flat. It was not the right word, but I sensed that as they looked for composure they lost something in the way they played. Clearly they were practising what they had been taught - don't let the situation get on top of you, do not panic, you can win every game etc etc - but in doing so they allowed the French to build in confidence.
Feeling the stress
The All Blacks might not have been feeling the stress, they must have believed they could win this game, but considering they must have prepared for every scenario, they did not seem prepared for this one.
It is an extremely unsatisfactory way for this group of coaches and players to bow out. They were a far better team than what they showed us in Cardiff but once again being the best team means very little at the World Cup.
It will hurt us all, but our hurt will be insignificant to that experienced by the players who realise they have just added more justification to the 'chokers" tag that opposites love to toss around.
For that reason alone, it is comforting to know the Wallabies are out as well.
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