The All Blacks have arrived back in New Zealand with the heartbreak of the Rugby World Cup final loss and the end of the Ian Foster era firmly dawning on them now.
The team touched down at Auckland International Airport this afternoon after more than two months on the road, culminating in their 12-11 loss to the Springboks on Sunday in Paris.
Faithful fans came out to show their support for the side and cheered for them as they made their way through the arrival gates, fresh off of more than 24 hours of air travel.
Ardie Savea, fresh off winning his first men's player of the year accolade at the World Rugby Awards, conceded there was plenty of painful reflection during the flights.
"Two 12-hour flights, just sitting there, playing the game over in your head, moments, what you could've done better, different moments — I think it's normal after losing a big one," Savea said.
"It's a bittersweet moment being home and seeing fans," he added. "It's a tough one but can't wait to get on another plane and go home to Wellington."
It's a process many in the team went through, including All Blacks captain Sam Cane as he still comes to terms with the red card he received in the final.
Cane became the first player ever to be red-carded in a men's Rugby World Cup final after his head contact with Jesse Kriel in the first half, forcing him to watch his team from the sidelines as they tried to overcome the defending champions down a man and almost doing so.
The skipper said it had been "helpful" being around the team in the wake of the moment but he was still hurting.
The team is back home after their agonising defeat in the Rugby World Cup final. (Source: 1News)
"The hardest time is in your room by yourself so I've been conscious of that and getting round the team," Cane said.
"My mum said to me if it was my boy who'd been in this situation, how would you want him to feel and you wouldn't want him to beat himself up so I'm trying not to be too hard on myself.
"But I think it's something I'm going to have to live with forever unfortunately and it's going to hurt for a while."
The end of the World Cup cycle also means the end of Foster's time in charge of the team, after New Zealand Rugby's hotly-debated decision to appoint Scott Robertson as his successor prior to the tournament.
A "tired" Foster said he was yet to fully reflect on the final but had already passed on a report to World Rugby about what they saw. The departing coach told media they could guess what much of it was about with officiating being a hot topic of fans and commentators in the fallout of the match.
But Foster said he had better things to reflect on — and wanted to do so with the players in person.
"It is a strange feeling in the sense we're here then we go off and there's nothing formal we have to do now," Foster said.
"I've invited a few of them to come round and pitch their tent on the lawn maybe one weekend — I'll supply the music and barbeque and they can bring a few drinks," he added with a grin.
"But I might fly around and see a few of them in the next month just to do the send off properly."
Foster also reiterated he was "very much" still interested in coaching but would leave all that talk, including the recently-opened position at the Wallabies, for another day.
"I'm happy. I think I got dealt a bunch of cards more different than any other All Blacks coach in many ways, in terms of governance, leadership, Covid — a whole lot of things.
"All I can say is I did the best I could."
But for now it was handshakes and hugs with his players as they all went their separate ways, either headed for connecting flights or short drives to be with family to reflect, review and above all, relax.
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