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'It's skill execution' - Foster looking to build from disappointing draw after missed opportunities at the death
A new era for All Blacks rugby got off to a shaky start in Wellington on Sunday, with the Wallabies holding the hosts to a famous 16-all draw. But Australia also came within a posts-width of securing what would’ve been an historic victory, with a monstrous Reece Hodge penalty just missing the target.
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Not only was it the first test match for either team this year, but it was also Ian Foster and Sam Cane maiden test since taking the reigns of the national side as permanent coach and captain respectively.
After the nearly 90 minutes of rugby, both Foster and Cane were clearly disappointed with the result – with the Captain carrying the wounds of the test with him into the post-match press conference.
James O’Connor put plenty of pressure on the All Blacks late but kicking a penalty with just over five minutes to play, before Jordie Barrett cancelled it out with a penalty of his own in the 79th minute. After the missed Hodge penalty, the rugby in stoppage time would’ve had all rugby fans on the edge of their seat, with both teams having chances to win the test.
When the sound of the siren was a distant memory, and with the scores still locked, the All Blacks had the ball inside the Australian 22 with a drop goal looking like a potential option. But instead the All Blacks continued to attack, and it nearly paid off for them.
While they didn’t get the points they were after, Foster is taking plenty out of those final few moments.
“I thought we calmed ourselves down, we were well set up under the goalposts. You’ll see Richie [Mo’unga] was hovering around in that position but Jordie [Barrett] called the ball and it was actually a pretty solid decision in its own because George Bridge was pretty well unmarked out the side,” Foster said.
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“It’s skill execution, we just couldn’t quite get the ball out where it needed to be. That hurts.
“It’s a message to us all that test rugby is back and if you’re not good enough in those big moments, then you don’t get what you want.”
Another key moment that Foster refused to blame the result on came on the stroke of half-time, with centre Rieko Ioane dropping the ball over the line with no defenders near him.
The All Blacks led by five points at the time, but Ioane decided to put the ball down with one hand. The hosts could’ve potentially have led by as much as 12 going into the break.
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“It would’ve been useful. He’s feeling pretty frustrated with himself but that’s one of those little lessons that players have to go through and I thought he had a reasonably strong game apart from that.
“That’s why they’re called test matches, you’ve got to take those little moments and when you get a little slopping, it can come back and bite you.
“You can’t dwell on errors in test matches, there’s a whole lot of errors before that and a whole lot of errors after that, but there’s certainly some learnings.
“Part of international rugby is that you make an error and you move on. He’s a confident young man and he’s got to learn from that one little thing, but he can also focus on the whole lot of good things he did in that game too.”
What did you think of that NO TRY decision? #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/aXzd26rvEH
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) October 11, 2020
Cane was particularly impressive for the All Blacks, making 26 tackles and securing two turnovers with his work around the breakdown. It was a tough night for the men in black jerseys, who were made to make over 100 more tackles than their opponents in the first Bledisloe Cup test.
“In test matches, you can’t be defending the whole time. It’d be quite nice to apply a wee bit more pressure with the ball and I think that will be an area of focus for us this week,” Cane reflected.
“I’m also really proud of the desire, the attitude at the end, the willingness to keep playing.
“Lots of emotions but as buggered as you are after a test match like that and a result like that, I’m already looking forward to the next one.”
The result sees the equation for the Bledisloe Cup effectively changing for both teams, with the series now going to a best of three format.
Auckland will host the next test on the 18th at Eden Park, at place the Wallabies haven’t beaten the All Blacks at since 1986.
“The Bledisloe is important for us and this test showed where both teams are at, and both teams will walk away with a lot of positives and a lot of stuff that they’ll think that they can go and do better next week.
“It bodes for a great series, and hopefully that gets people excited but we can’t wait for Eden Park now. We’ve got a job to do and Eden Park is pretty special for us and we want to play well up there, and we’re going to have to.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments