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‘Under the radar’: Ian Foster’s assessment of All Blacks after another big win
After winning the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship on Saturday, coach Ian Foster fired a warning at the All Blacks’ international rivals.
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The All Blacks are coming off three big wins from as many starts, and they aren’t done yet. Coach Foster doubted whether it was “quite enough” a month out from the upcoming World Cup.
New Zealand have shown that a year is a long time in Test rugby, as cliché as they may sound. 10 months ago, the men in black snuck by the Wallabies in a controversial thriller in Melbourne.
That underwhelming performance followed a series of disastrous results. With coach Foster at the helm, the All Blacks had lost to Ireland, South Africa and Argentina.
New Zealanders were ready to hit the panic button with the Rugby World Cup about a year away. For a team who expects to challenge for glory, things hadn’t gone to plan – far from it, in fact.
But the All Blacks have turned things around in a big way.
Led by wing Mark Telea, the All Blacks put on an attacking clinic during the second half at the MCG on Saturday, as they ran away with a statement 38-7 win over Australia.
The victory extended the All Blacks’ unbeaten run to 10 Test matches.
For a team who was doubted by many not too long ago, cast aside as a mere pretender ahead of the World Cup, the All Blacks have found their mojo once again.
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But coach Ian Foster wants the All Blacks to get better.
“Maybe if you guys could dampen some of your headlines, that’d be good,” Foster joked after the win over Australia. “We could keep under the radar for a little bit longer.
“What other people think is kind of irrelevant to us. We’re trying to build something that gets us where we want to be.
“We’ve made the point early is that we feel the best way to prepare for the big stage is to prepare for the big stage every week. That’s what we’ve had to learn.
“We know that we had some growing up to do as a team coming into this year and so far we’ve taken three pretty strong steps forward which we’re pretty proud of.
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“But I’m not sure it’s quite enough just yet.”
Eddie Jones’ Wallabies were clearly the better team during the first 20 minutes of their clash with New Zealand at the world-famous MCG last weekend.
After going behind early, the Wallabies hit back through Rob Valetini – and looked all but certain to extend their advantage when Carter Gordon lined up a penalty attempt at goal.
But the attempt, which appeared to be a relatively routine shot at goal, missed the target. The Wallabies had failed to extend their slender two-point lead, and the All Blacks were ready to make them pay.
Tries to Codie Taylor and Will Jordan saw the visitors take a hard-fought lead into the break. Following another tense period, the All Blacks blitzed their rivals with three quick tries.
The 31-point win saw the All Blacks win The Rugby Championship title, and also retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
“Not relief, celebration,” Foster added. “If it’s relief, that means you’re going in with a bit of fear and trepidation and you’re worried about things.
“We treasure these opportunities. I know the records strong and I know that’s kind of hurting the Aussies but the only message I can give is that it means a lot to us.
“It’s one thing we never, ever take for granted and we get delighted when we win it. It’s a pretty happy shed in there.”
The All Blacks will look to extend their unbeaten streak to 11 matches when they take on the Wallabies at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 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!
5 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.
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