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‘Don’t live in the past’: Ian Foster dismisses All Blacks’ semi-final favouritism
Many consider the All Blacks to be overwhelming favourites ahead of their Rugby World Cup semi-final against Los Pumas, but don’t tell coach Ian Foster that.
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Foster told reporters earlier this week that they’ve “never heard us say we’re favourites” ahead of the southern hemisphere showdown, and the coach doubled down on that belief on the eve of the Test.
New Zealand have played Argentina 36 times in the Test arena and have won 33. The All Blacks have a history of success against Los Pumas but history doesn’t mean much come Friday night.
Argentina shocked the rugby world with their first-ever win over the New Zealanders a few years ago, and they emerged victorious again in Christchurch 14 months ago, but they’re widely considered the underdogs.
This is the All Blacks at a Rugby World Cup after all. When the Webb Ellis Cup is up for grabs the New Zealanders embody the form of a roaring beast that often proves tough to tame.
But this is a semi-final and both teams deserve to be here. Once a ball is kicked and tries are scored anything can happen, and coach Foster knows that. About 32 hours before the Test, Foster refused to acknowledge the All Blacks as favourites once again.
“There are two teams in the semi-final. Anyone can win. That’s the mindset both teams have got,” Foster told reporters on Thursday.
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“We are massively respectful of Argentina. We don’t live in the past. Rugby World Cup tournaments are about the present.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
12
38
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
20%
“If you go into a World Cup semi-final thinking the past is going to happen again, you have got problems.
“We are just excited about being there ourselves. Been really impressed with Argentina, how they’ve carried their campaign. It was a great victory against Wales where they showed their tenacity. We know they’ve got that as we play them regularly and they’ve been difficult opponents, so there will be no surprises.”
The All Blacks are coming off a thrilling 28-24 win over Ireland. Captain Sam Cane and fellow-backrower Ardie Savea were among the standouts as the New Zealanders kept their World Cup dreams alive in France.
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As for Argentina, they’re coming off a tough win of their own against Warren Gatland’s Wales in Marseille. Veteran Nicolas Sanchez scored a late try as Los Pumas booked their spot in the semis.
“It’s different as they have different jerseys on, it’s not different from the physical side. We both know how tough each other is,” Foster added.
“They are a very physical, combative team particularly at the breakdown and particularly the way they tackle with the likes of [flanker Marcos] Kremer. He has had a great tournament.
“It’s the same as we had in the quarter-final. We are not going in with any different mindset in that space. The moral of the story is it’s a semi-final and we know that we are facing a team that will scrap for every little bit of possession. We are going to have to be at our best.”.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
237 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
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