New Zealand drew all three of their games and finished above World Champions Italy in the group.
“Everybody played well, they all contributed on the highest level,” he said.
“It’s our second time at the World Cup and to completely reverse what we’ve done before is quite amazing. The future looks bright for the team.
“I think I need to pinch myself,” he added. “If you are going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it.
“A lot of people thought we shouldn’t be here and that we had amateurs who were not up to it.
“But I think that’s dead and buried now.”
