'Gutted': All Blacks coach Dave Rennie feels the pain as Springboks win series 3-1

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie feels the All Blacks are making making good progress, but says the loss of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series hurts.The Springboks rejoiced with the series trophy after beating the All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore, taking the four-match series 3-1, with victory in the final three matches after the All Blacks won in Johannesburg.It has been a bruising eight-match tour over more than six weeks for the New Zealanders, who were hoping to unseat the South Africans as world number one, albeit with a revamped side after skipper Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea returned home injured after the third test loss.But they could not match the Springboks' firepower and clinical approach.The All Blacks made too many mistakes to be able to foot it with the Boks at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of NFL side the Baltimore Ravens, where nearly 70,000 people turned up. A win would have drawn the series and the Greatest Rivalry trophy would have been split in half.When asked for his initial reaction, Rennie replied: "Gutted.""We were confident that if we got a few things right tonight, we'd have a good chance of winning and fell short."Siya Kolisi holds up Rugby's Greatest Rivalry TrophyGetty Images via AFP"So, yeah, disappointing from that perspective. From a tour point of view, you know, I think I said three, four or five months ago whenever I got appointed that I was really excited about the tour coming here because we knew it was going to be tough, but we'd learn a lot about ourselves and we'd leave with a better understanding of our game model and tighter as a group."And we're definitely in that position. It's been awesome for us."Rennie has found the Boks the big stumbling block in his first season as All Blacks coach, after the New Zealanders beat France in his initial test in charge on 4 July, then Italy and Ireland. Hopes were high after the All Blacks won the first test 33-16 in Johannesburg, but the wounded Springboks rebounded with victories in the next three tests.Rennie said they were a great side."I thought South Africa were very good, they were electric and really clinical when they got their opportunities," said at the press conference after the Baltimore test."That was probably a key point tonight."'Really excited' despite lossRennie said the result hurt, but with an eye on next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia he was pleased with his side's progress."Really excited about where our game's heading and knowing that we need to be better when you play a great side like the Springboks.He thought on the match numbers that it was "a very even game tonight, bar the score"."We probably conceded a little bit chasing the game late, but felt even with 15 to go we were right in it. So, yeah, disappointed, but still really proud of the effort and feel that we're tracking in the right direction.Of areas that stung the All Blacks, he was disappointed with the performance under the high ball, saying the South Africans put them under more heat again."We couldn't grab a lot of those."But he was pleased with the set pieces.As to the near nine-minute break in the first half when officials tried to work out how to fix the broken communications system used by referee Karl Dickson and the Television Match Official, Rennie said it did not have an impact, but it should not have happened."I'm not sure. If comms gear goes down, you pull out of the spare set, surely. So, yeah, I'm not sure why it took so long," Rennie said.One discipline area the All Blacks will have to work on is at the breakdown where they were pinged for illegal cleanouts and holding players down. Rennie conceded as much calling the illegalities "dumb".Beauden Barrett has late say with tryRennie also complimented veteran Beauden Barrett on his efforts for the team. The 35-year-old came on at fullback as a late replacement for his 145th cap and had the final say in the game, dancing in for a nifty try."Yeah, we're really happy with Beauden. Yeah, I mean, you guys just get to see the game. We get to see his contribution daily in meetings and in training and in leadership."He said Barrett had been excellent in the matches he played on tour, while halfback Kyle Preston, who played in all eight tour matches, had been a strong performer who "suited our game".The All Blacks now have a break before a two-match Bledisloe Cup series next month, with the first at Eden Park on 10 October 10 and the second in Sydney a week later.