KEY POINTS:
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has launched a passionate defence of Richie McCaw after the captain's leadership was fingered as a crucial reason for the World Cup quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff.
Yesterday's independent review said a failure of on-field leadership at a crucial time had contributed.
The report didn't name McCaw but did point out that just four of the 10-strong leadership group were on the field in the final 10 minutes in Cardiff, leaving the captain short of support when he chose to ignore Henry's call for a drop goal and go for a try or penalty instead.
"I'm pretty passionate about this," said an animated Henry yesterday.
"Richie got the message about the drop goal and he made a decision - that is crucial - he made a decision on the way the game was going at that particular point in time.
"We had 70 per cent territory and 70 per cent possession and we spent 12 minutes in the French 22 in the second half.
"He made the decision that we could win the game by scoring tries and kicking penalties."
McCaw's decision was based on how the All Blacks and the Crusaders had won in the past, Henry said.
"I totally support him on that. Okay, there was a particular instance where a drop goal was on and the guy in the No 10 position probably should have had a crack at it. He didn't and there is always going to be that debate. But I totally respect Richie and his decision to go for [a try]."
"The players were unaware ... that the All Blacks had not been given a penalty in the entire second half and were therefore probably unlikely to get one, notwithstanding their pressure, possession and territory," the review stated.
A combination of gritty French opposition, an unlucky string of injuries, poor on-field leadership and refereeing errors led to the All Blacks' defeat, the report concluded.
The performance of referee Wayne Barnes, who whistled a 10-2 penalty count in favour of the French despite the All Blacks dominance in territory and possession, was criticised.
"On anyone's account, the referee and touch judges made mistakes which worked against the All Blacks."
The report, compiled by former softball coach Don Tricker and lawyer Mike Heron, also suggested the All Blacks had one eye on the semifinal and final, citing the decision of the leadership group not to "push the emotional button" for the quarter-final for fear of suffering a let down the following week.
"There remained a sense to us that the All Blacks, coaches and management were looking past the quarter-final."
With just four of the 10-man leadership group on the field in the closing stages of the match, support for McCaw had not been "optimal", the report said.
"In the dying minutes of that critical game, the leadership model failed to deliver what was its most important objective - decisions which give the best chance of winning the game."
But Henry said he disagreed with criticism of the team's leadership.
"It's a very easy throwaway to say the leadership or the mental toughness is not up to it. I don't agree with that. I think they have made big strides there."