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'It's funny': Springboks captain dismisses All Blacks criticism

By Finn Morton
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

While the All Blacks are always under some degree of pressure and scrutiny, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi believes “it’s funny” how harshly they’ve been criticised this year.

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Both the legacy of the coveted black jersey and the passion of their fans makes being an All Blacks one of the greatest honours a New Zealander can achieve.

But there’s pressure with that – a lot of expectation – that has caused countless players in the past to either sink or swim in the Test arena.

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The All Blacks had to point to prove this season after losing crunch clashes with Ireland and France on their end-of-season tour last year.

While the men in black were able to avenge that loss against the Irish at Eden Park to open their season, a disastrous losing streak followed.

New Zealand had never lost a Test against Ireland at home, but they went on to lose their next two matches – and ultimately the series after a thriller in Wellington.

After losing to the Springboks and Argentina during The Rugby Championship, the All Blacks began to turn their form around.

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The All Blacks ended their season on a seven Test unbeaten run, which included a dramatic draw against England at Twickenham.

Considering how competitive international rugby is now, the All Blacks deserve some praise.

Star flanker Siya Kolisi was asked about the All Blacks’ form this year and the criticism they’d received, which he quickly dismissed by commenting on the “good tough time” the men in black have had this year.

“It’s funny how you say it’s been a tough time for the All Blacks while they’ve won almost every competition they’ve played in,” Kolisi said on SENZ Breakfast.

“That’s a good tough time to have. That just shows the expectation of the group and I think it’s an amazing group.”

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As for the reigning World Cup champions South Africa, they finished their 2022 season with an emphatic win over Eddie Jones’ England last weekend.

While the Springboks did lose to Ireland and France during the Autumn Nations Series, they’ll undoubtedly be a contender at next year’s World Cup.

“For us, we’ve been learning a lot and I think we’ve been improving quite a lot. I think this autumn series has helped us quite a lot and got us a lot of answers,” he added.

“A lot of players put their hand up so we would’ve loved to win all four games but I think we got the answers we needed.”

The Springboks created some history with the 27-13 win at Twickenham, which was their first victory at the venue for years.

South Africa controlled the Test after racing out to a convincing halftime lead. England were trailing 6-27 before Thomas du Toit was red carded an hour into the match, which gave them a glimmer of hope.

While they were able to score the final try of the night in the 72nd minute, the home side still couldn’t get close to their opponent’s strong lead.

“For most of us it was the first time winning in Twickenham.

“We know what we can do and we really trust every single guy in the team. For some people it could’ve been their last time playing (at Twickenham) because next year is a World Cup.

“Everybody had to stand up and I thought the way we fought together as a group after the two close losses against Ireland and France, and then we obviously put a good performance against Italy.

“We knew this meant so much, not just for us but for the people back at home. As tough as the tour was, the people didn’t stop supporting us.

“It just reminded us of what we’re playing for and what a privilege it is and we have to deliver on the day.”

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Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 12 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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