Ian Foster calls out Kwagga Smith steal late in Rugby World Cup final

The fight for a fourth World Cup title between the All Blacks and Springboks was an agonisingly tight affair with the South Africans walking away eventual 12-11 winners on the night.

The game was filled with big moments from Sam Cane's red card to the tackle on Rieko Ioane in the corner to a chip over the top that did not bounce for the All Blacks.

Foster acknowledged that some things did not go his team's way whilst also outlining that he believes the All Blacks should have been handed a kick to win right at the end.

"You can look at some of the controllables, there was a great Jordie Barrett chip in the first half and Ardie ran onto it, the ball didn't bounce his way," Foster told The Platform.

"We had a couple of goal kicks in that last 20 that didn't go over.

"I think the World Cup should have finished on a penalty to us, near where Jordie missed his first kick.

"Kwagga Smith clearly had hands on the ground when he won a ball at the breakdown that we didn't get a penalty for.

"The drama of having a 48-metre penalty to finish a World Cup, that wouldn't have done anyone's nerves any good anyway.

"But look, there's a whole lot of ˜what ifs', but that's what it is."

The coach understands that World Cups are often decided by the finest margins and admitted it's a loss he may not get over.

"We've always said World Cups are unique and you look back at 2011 for example, we won a really tight game against France 8-7," Foster said.

"People forget about how tight that game was, they just remember the victory.

"There were cries from the French for a penalty in the last part of that game.

"Am I philosophical? I guess I am about it but what I've learnt, I'll never get over it I don't think, but there is no point us carrying around a lot of anger about it either because it doesn't change.

"We've just got to acknowledge that's what finals are about, there is a bit of drama on all counts."

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