‘We’ve been building’: All Blacks look to ‘take a step forward’ against Wallabies
After winning The Rugby Championship and retaining the prestigious Bledisloe Cup, the All Blacks are looking “to take a step forward” when they face the Wallabies in Dunedin this weekend.
The All Blacks have been quite brilliant under Ian Foster this year. In fact, this might be the best they’ve looked under Foster, who has taken the team to an all-new level alongside Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt.
Having won three games from as many Tests, the New Zealanders have certainly moved on from the horrors of last year – they were beaten by Ireland, South Africa, Argentina and just snuck by Australia.
The All Blacks started their international campaign with a dominant win over Los Pumas in Mendoza, and backed up that showing with another promising display against the world-champion Springboks in Auckland.
But the men in black saved their best for last. Playing at the world-famous MCG last Saturday, in front of almost 84,000 too, New Zealand put on a second-half clinic against the wounded Wallabies.
“We’re pretty proud of the performance last week. We certainly had to work for it, they tested us in a lot of areas,” All Blacks captain Sam Cane told reporters on Friday.
“We held pretty strong with the fact that we only let the one try in, we try to work on our defence, and hopefully tomorrow we can take another step forward.”
In the minds of the All Blacks and Wallabies, I’m sure, there is no such word as ‘dead rubber’ when either team ventures into enemy territory.
The All Blacks may have won last week, and retained the Bledisloe by doing so, but this is still New Zealand versus Australia. In southern hemisphere sports, it doesn’t get much better.
Samipeni Finau and Shaun Stevenson will also debut after being named in the starting side, while Dallas McLeod could also become All Black No. 1213 off the bench.
“We’ve got three guys, two definitely making their debut and one potentially, and a lot of guys having an opportunity,” Cane added.
“On top of that, we know that where we’re at right now is not what’s going to be good enough later in the year.
“Every time that we get a chance to take the field as a team is a chance to take a step forward and get better, and ultimately get to where we want to get to.”
This time last year, New Zealand rugby fans were panicking. With the World Cup nigh on the horizon, the All Blacks weren’t tracking in a winning direction.
It was time to sound the alarm – almost. New Zealand Rugby stood by coach Foster, and that decision has worked wonders so far in 2023.
“I certainly felt, and I have felt for probably the last 18 months or so, that we’ve been building to a pretty good spot.
“I suppose it’s pleasing that it’s starting to show on the field, the squads in a really good spot as a whole. We see that by the selectors being bold and making a lot of changes for tomorrow night.
“Hopefully if our prep has been on point and we’re where we need to be, we’ll still get another really good performance.”
The All Blacks take on arch-rivals Australia at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium at 2.35 pm NZST on Saturday afternoon.
It’s their last Test on New Zealand soil before heading off to Europe ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments