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The Ireland tactic that Foster couldn't resist taking a swipe at
It’s a weekly occurrence now in rugby, the commentary on the refereeing and its shortcomings, and Saturday’s aftermath in Dublin was no different when it came to the protagonists dissecting the fallout from Ireland defeating the All Blacks 29-20. All Blacks boss Ian Foster swept into the media conference room at Aviva Stadium and was quickly full of kudos for the victors.
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“Congratulations to Ireland,” he said unprompted at the start of the briefing, making an address off his own bat before the laptop was opened to overseas-based queries and then questions followed from those in attendance in the room situated in the bowels of the D4 stadium.
“They thoroughly deserved their win. It was a game that they came out and played incredibly well, held the ball for long periods… I was really impressed with them. They played a high tempo game, kept us chasing and when it really mattered at the end we just didn’t quite have the composure to take the opportunity that presented to us and they just played a pressure game in that last little part.”
All very complimentary and all well received. Yet there was eventually one particular issue, other than his disagreement over the ruling out of the second half Akira Ioane try for a TMO adjudicated forward pass from Richie Mo’unga, that really got his goat – alleged delaying tactics from Ireland that slowed down the game’s tempo coming down the finishing straight.
Between all the various jigs and reels over the course of an 80-minute match that took two hours to complete, James Lowe whacking the ball into the stands at 5.15 pm to finally call a halt to a contest with a 3.15pm kick-off, Foster was teed off that there were too many disruptions at a time in the game when the All Blacks just simply wanted to get on with the action quickly.
What is rare is wonderful in sport but what is becoming increasingly familiar can be just as magical as was proven with Ireland beating the All Blacks for the third time in five meetings… #Ireland #IREvNZR #AutumnNationsSeries #AllBlackshttps://t.co/HZjRz6sJMY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2021
“The game is supposed to be played fast,” he insisted near the end of the 16-minute briefing he attended in the company of skipper Sam Whitelock. “There are times if someone is injured and needs treatment they get a certain window of time and if they can’t fix it in that time they go to the sideline, so it’s hard for refs to try and speed the game up.
“This is not a biggie for me but it was clearly a tactic and good on them [Ireland] for doing it because there was a lot of them going down with cramp and all sorts of stuff. I don’t begrudge that but we have just got to make sure we keep the game ticking over.”
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Anyone in the stands in Dublin who had access to the reflink would have had their ears perked by the constant chatter that unfolded across the two hours, referee Luke Pearce regularly reminding the combatants that he had a team of officials who should be allowed to do their job without interference.
At one stage in the first half, when Dane Coles was on as a temporary sub with Cody Taylor in the sin bin, the All Blacks No16 was even heard remarking to the referee about Johnny Sexton, “He is a bit of a mouthy.” Sexton was in the sense that Pearce admonished him on a couple of occasions for making referrals that the officials weren’t interested in entertaining.
What was Sexton’s view of the accusation? “He [Coles] has plenty to say all the time. I don’t mind that. When you are on the pitch it is heated, it’s a battle and I was trying to speak to the ref and they were taking offence that I was speaking to the ref.
“I wasn’t saying anything out of line I don’t think but we will have a look. Something I am always trying to work on is my communication with the referees. We will see how I went. Maybe I let it boil over at times towards the end of the first half when I felt that we had the ball and we weren’t getting some of the rewards for it, but we will go and have a look.”
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Maori All Blacks winger Sean Wainui passed away last month… the fifth anniversary of the death of Anthony Foley was also acknowledged at the game in Dublin #Ireland #IREvNZR #AutumnNationsSeries #AllBlacks
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
RugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
19 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
62 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
19 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
62 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to comments