'Took a little while': Foster's verdict on All Black debutants Stevenson and Finau
It was a baptism of fire for Ian Foster’s new look All Blacks which included two new debutants in a heavily changed line-up for Bledisloe II in Dunedin.
The home side got off to the worst possible start as the Wallabies exploded out of the blocks with a rapid start, scoring inside three minutes through winger Marika Koroibete.
The fired up Australians didn’t stop there, with barnstorming loose forward Tom Hooper crashing over in the same corner minutes later to extend the lead to 14-0.
Debutant Shaun Stevenson was under fire with two tries conceded down his channel while new flanker Samipeni Finau was also feeling the heat, lacking accuracy around the breakdown giving away two penalties in the first half.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster was proud of the way the pair bounced back in the second half, with each of them playing an important part in the 23-20 comeback win.
“I thought some of the new guys played better in the second half and that’s a good sign too,” Ian Foster said of his new players.
“Sometimes when you come into a Test match you can do everything that you are good at and it shines, this one you had to work hard.
“I thought they took a little while to adjust to the pace of the game.
“As the game unfolded they got more involved and we started to see what they could contribute.”
In the game of two halves, Stevenson’s afternoon immediately looked a little brighter as he scored the All Blacks first try of the afternoon just three minutes in the second forty.
Bursting onto a Damian McKenzie’s cutout pass, he powered through the cover tackle of Andrew Kellaway and contorted through the next man Koroibete to finish in the corner.
Samipeni Finau began to make an impact with his carry game as the game wore on, creating front foot ball for the All Blacks. He powered through four Wallabies defenders to score the go-ahead try in the 64th minute.
“Particularly Samipeni, he came back. He finished over the top of them a little bit, which was nice to see,” Foster said.
Veteran All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith credited the debutants with adding something to a ‘special’ performance which although he said was ‘ugly’ at times, is the kind of game that he will remember.
After wrapping up the campaign with four wins from four, each player will be waiting for the call on Monday as the World Cup squad is announced.
“I thought the new boys really added something tonight,” Smith said.
“Unreal, I’m really happy for them. That’s the beauty of our squad, the next man up has to do a job.
“It was an amazing Rugby Championship, a special one. Special for our team.
“We were looking to make changes from last year, and we are taking some positive steps.
“We are definitely not the finished product. I think we are all waiting for Monday night now.”
Ian Foster’s bold selection for the second Bledisloe Test was done with the bigger picture in mind.
The All Blacks head coach explained his reasoning in his post-match press conference which helped the team get ‘World Cup ready’.
“The overall objective was to win this Test but also get the squad to the starting line of the World Cup,” Foster said.
“If we didn’t do this game the way we did, the danger was we would’ve had a number of players in a World Cup squad that hadn’t played serious Test match for eight to nine weeks.
“We knew what we were doing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bit 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.
35 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 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!
3 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.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to comments