New Zealand and Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen has revealed that he was only "40 per cent fit" during Thursday's World Cup clash with Paraguay.

The Rovers star had been laid low in the run-up to their final group clash with a virulent stomach bug, but whilst he felt he wasn't at his best, nothing was going to stop him from representing his country in their all-important match.

And although New Zealand again picked up a respectful draw against the South Americans, it wasn't enough to see them through to the last sixteen of the competition.

"I'd been throwing up and had diarrhoea for the last few days, I haven't eaten for two days, I just can't eat. I just felt awful, I still feel awful," Nelsen said post-match.

"I just feel really gutted and let down and disappointed. I know the whole country has got behind us, you just want to say sorry to them in a way. We were so close, but we just didn't get there.

"I just wish we could have done a wee bit better. All the guys are so gutted, we know all the support we've had, it's been incredible. We just feel we were so close but so far. To get the country into the next round would have been incredible."

Nelsen will now take a well-deserved rest before joining up with the Rovers squad on their pre-season tour of Australia.