'It's not what we wanted': Foster reflects on 'scrappy' All Blacks match
The All Blacks have emerged victorious from their 100th clash with the Springboks, scoring a narrow 19-17 victory in Townsville on Saturday night, but their attack wasn’t able to kick into life as it has throughout 2021.
Despite entering the match in a rich vein of form, New Zealand struggled to build any dominance over South Africa. There was an obvious lack of continuity when the ball was delivered through the hands and it was difficult for the All Blacks to maintain possession for more than a few phases at a time.
That’s despite scoring a try in the first three minutes of the match, with right wing Will Jordan touching down off a break from hooker Codie Taylor. While many would have expected the All Blacks to build from their high-speed start, it was the Springboks who struck next, and the game quickly devolved into a scrappy affair.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster acknowledged after that match that the game certainly hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped, but that the arm-wrestle that resulted also wasn’t a huge surprise, given the occasion and the opposition.
“Scrappy, humid conditions – it’s what we expected,” Foster said. “It’s not what we wanted. I have to say the performance wasn’t really what we wanted but look, we were forced into a lot of errors from their pressure and that was a game we expected to come up against.
“So hats off to them but I just loved our attitude when things weren’t going well. We still wanted to play, we showed a determination to keep fighting and got there in the end.
“I think clearly we made more errors than really what we wanted to. Some of our handling perhaps wasn’t at the level that we needed it to be and there’s a combination of players playing South Africa for the first time, the pressure they put us under and how it forces you, if you’re going to execute, you’ve got to execute at the top level. So nice little [lesson] for us.”
After some subdued performance last year, the All Blacks’ attack had started to tick into life in 2021, with the team racking up 422 points over their eight matches played in the lead-up to the Springboks test – averaging 53 per match. Even after excluding the games against Tonga and Fiji at the beginning of the year, the All Blacks were still scoring 41 points per game against their Rugby Championship opposition.
Other attacking metrics were equally as promising, with the All Blacks averaging 17 linebreaks per game until they struck the Springboks, who conceded just four.
That’s despite the Springboks struggling to contain the Wallabies in their previous two games, especially in last week’s 17-30 loss where Australia managed nine clean breaks.
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Clearly, South Africa stepped up their defence in the historic showdown with the All Blacks, with their high-pressure rush defence forcing a number of errors from their opposition.
While that would have no doubt frustrated Foster, the coach is unsurprisingly pleased that his side still emerged from the contest as victors.
“I think you can talk about pressure and you can talk about being strangled and we spoke a lot about that, the way that we knew the South Africans would want to play against us,” he said after the match. “It’s one thing to dismiss it as boring, which a lot of people do, but I think I used the words ‘ruthless’ and ‘clinical’ – and they’re very good at it.
“We ran out of time in many situations and that put our skillset under pressure so there was a real learning curve for us in that space, and particularly some of our backs, I just felt our timing was a bit off because of the pressure we were put under. But isn’t good to learn that lesson and have a win next to your name? So we’re really excited by that.
“We didn’t fold, we didn’t get too flustered, we kept playing and overall I’m happy, and can’t wait for next week now.”
Captain Ardie Savea backed up his coach’s sentiments.
“They put us under a lot of pressure and that forced us to make errors and our handling skills early on in the phases,” he said. “When we started, there was a [part] there where we started to build phases and hold onto the ball and we got a penalty out of it. I think it’s just up to us, being able to hold a bit more depth and being better in our skillset so that we can build phases and keep the ball in play.”
Here's how the All Blacks rated in their tight Rugby Championship victory over the Springboks in Townsville. #NZLvRSA100 #RugbyChampionship #TRC2021 #AllBlacks #Springboks https://t.co/AJvGYuvnMm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2021
The intense pressure the Springboks exerted on their opposites – both physically and mentally – should provide the All Blacks with some solid lessons moving forward. It was England’s in-your-face defence that the All Blacks struggled with in their semi-final loss at the 2019 World Cup and they managed to weather the storm significantly better in Saturday’s victory, but Foster says there’s still plenty of room for development in that area.
“Was it the same [as the World Cup loss]? It’s hard to say a win is the same as a loss so I don’t think so,” Foster said. “But I think there are some things… We are making strides in the physical side of the game and we are making some strides in our ability to deal with set-piece pressure and how we go about it.
“Clearly we’re not the finished product yet, we know that. But I love the way we stayed in the fight and we problem-solved and we muscled up and we made that game a massive contest in an arm-wrestle type game that probably wasn’t the game we wanted to have.”
The All Blacks and Springboks will square off once more on the Gold Coast next weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ardie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
11 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
11 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
11 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
11 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
11 Go to comments