Foster downplays All Blacks’ ‘lingering’ thoughts of 2019 semi-final exit
It all started with an Owen Farrell smirk. The English playmaker offered a cheeky grin as the All Blacks laid down their challenge with the haka ahead of a blockbuster semi-final at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
England went on to win that Test at Tokyo Stadium 19-7. The pain, heartbreak and grief of that disappointing defeat has stuck with the All Blacks ever since – that’s clear four years later.
Some of the New Zealanders who were involved in that frustrating 12-point defeat have been asked about that Test in the lead-up to their upcoming semi-final against Argentina at Stade de France. Players have been quizzed on the lessons that they learned on that fateful Japanese night.
But All Blacks coach Ian Foster has drawn a line in the sand. On the eve of New Zealand’s date with destiny in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals, coach Foster revealed how much the All Blacks have actually spoken about 2019.
“The talk about 2019 we covered off in a small amount of time. It is not lingering in our mind. Most of the lessons we got out of 2019 have been taken on board. We make sure we go back and revisit what were the keys and we have done that,” Foster told reporters.
“Where I’m really proud of this group is that they are just loving being here and where they are at right now. The hardest thing to do in sport is to stay in the now, just to nail the thing in front of you.
“There is so much talk about the past and the future and the hardest thing is not to allow yourself to get distracted by those two conversations, but just to be the best you can be right now.
“We are working hard at that and that’s the coaching group as well. I’m incredibly proud of the way the players are dealing with that. They are not getting distracted by being too confused by lessons of the past.
“This group has its own way of doing things. There is a lot of honesty in the group. They have been preparing really well. We want to show we can deal with the challenges in front of us one at a time and just keep growing as a group.”
Four years on, the All Blacks are in an eerily similar situation. Just as they did in 2019, New Zealand beat Ireland in the quarter-finals as they booked a place in the final four.
Just as they were ahead of the England Test, the All Blacks have been bestowed the ‘favourites’ tag going into the semi-finals after beating Argentina 41-12 in their most recent meeting in Mendoza earlier this year.
But this is knockout rugby. Anything can happen, so the All Blacks aren’t taking their opponents lightly as they look ahead to this Test as if it were “a final.”
“The concept of ‘no tomorrow’ from the last game is exactly the same as for this one,” Foster said on Thursday.
“We know on the schedule there is another game for the teams that don’t win their semi-final but our mindset, and I’m sure Argentina’s is the same, is they just want to give everything they’ve got this week. It’s all about this week and that’s how we keep things nice and simple in our mind.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
2 Go to commentsThink 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.
5 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!
5 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 comments