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'Truly exposed': France put All Blacks' deficiencies in clear view
The 40-25 loss to France completed back-to-back defeats for the All Blacks under Ian Foster for the second time, after losing to the Pumas and Wallabies in consecutive matches in 2020.
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France raced out to a 24-6 lead in the first half in a dominant opening stanza, but the All Blacks were able to fight back through tries to Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane.
The game was in the balance as France held a two-point lead at 27-25 with roughly twenty minutes left before an outstanding piece of counter-attack swung the match in France’s favour.
Running out of his own in-goal, Romain Ntamack sparked a long break that ended with a yellow card to Ardie Savea and three points to France after what could have been a five metre scrum to the All Blacks had they pinned the flyhalf down.
Damian Penaud came up with the play that put France two scores ahead when he picked off a rushed pass from David Havili to score under the posts and put the home side up 37-25.
The loss in Paris was also the first time the All Blacks have conceded three test defeats in a season since 2009, with South Africa, Ireland and France earning wins over Foster’s side.
Questions that have lingered since last year’s season have resurfaced, with Kiwi fans now very aware of the state of New Zealand’s top side. Fans claimed that they had been ‘truly exposed’ over the last two weeks with ‘no plan but to kick the ball and hope’.
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Others believed the forward pack had been ‘destroyed’ by both the French and Irish packs, with Northern Hemisphere tight fives ‘far superior’.
The last two weeks have truly exposed the @AllBlacks deficiencies. We appear to have no plan but to kick the ball and hope for some broken field turn over magic. Cannot recall one try this year scored off an intentional team movement #FRAvNZL
— Rogan (@rmtempler) November 20, 2021
@AllBlacks dominated two weeks in a row by basic game plans and team play. Fozzy got to go. #FRAvNZL
— Mike Little ? ? (@morecoffeemike) November 20, 2021
The #AllBlacks forwards have been destroyed two weeks in a row. Northern hemisphere tight fives are far superior to ours. Havili is not an international quality midfielder. Foster has absolutely no game plan or clue & surely has to go so Razor can get us right for RWC. #FRAvNZL
— Jimmy Shaw (@SAFCKiwi) November 20, 2021
What a powerful performance from World Rugby Coach of the year, Ian Foster. #verncotterforever #FRAvNZL
— Melissa Rose (@mellyhugs) November 20, 2021
At the end of the day we all knew Fosters CV as head coach so it is not really surprising that this is where we find ourselves to be honest. I get people can grow and things but usually the best pointer to future outcomes is prior results #FRAvNZL
— Rogan (@rmtempler) November 20, 2021
The All Blacks were supposed to win 2019 World Cup, Steve Hansen would leave on a high and Ian Foster would carry on the great work.
They didn’t win, but hired Foster anyway.
They look like a team crying out for a new start and ideas.
Scott Robertson is that man. #FRAvNZL— JHC (@JHC17626935) November 20, 2021
It clear that Foster and his team are not adding to the identity of this side. This side has lacked in a lot of areas for some time #FRAvNZL
— Nathan (@nathanswarts) November 20, 2021
Foster has to go. This is one of the worst All Black tours we have seen in 15 years. His nomination as coach of the year is a sad joke. #FRAvNZL #AllBlacks
— Ronald (@KingRonaldIV) November 20, 2021
At least we can all say we DIDNT expected Allblacks to WIN tonight, you’d be a fool if you thought Foster had the minerals to turn things around for this team. #FRAvNZL #AutumnNationsSeries
— RHABULA ?? (@SportsInterval) November 20, 2021
What’s happening is, because we’ve retained Foster as coach, he’s essentially coaching the same system Hansen implemented. When u use the same system/structure since 2012, u become predictable #FRAvNZL
— ??Laker Heel? (@mexxdidit) November 20, 2021
Shambles. That’s what Foster has created in our attack. If NZRU aren’t making desperate calls to lawyers to figure out how to get Foster out of his contract, Id be concerned. It starts at the top and we need a huge reshuffle of tang coaching staff. #FRAvNZL
— Scott (@misjifNZ) November 20, 2021
In his post-match interview on the Amazon Prime broadcast, head coach Ian Foster said that the environment was ‘amazing’ but the All Blacks gave France a ‘dream start’.
Foster said he was ‘immensely proud’ of his side for fighting back in the game but that a key period of play cost his side.
“It was an amazing environment, wasn’t it? I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it,” Foster told the pitch side reporter.
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“We gave them the start they dreamed of, really, and we found it hard to crawl it back.
“Immensely proud, we came back at 27-25 and a yellow card and an intercept killed us at the wrong time. But it was a great occasion.”
On the All Blacks-France game being an advert for World Rugby, Foster said he couldn’t complain and pointed to the game as a reason why test rugby is healthy as it is.
“It’s hard to complain, isn’t it? I still smile when you say you need a competition for test matches to be relevant, well just look at this you know?
“The passion of the French and the supporters was immense tonight. Like I said, it was awesome to be a part of it and proud of our guys for coming back but just ran out of a bit of energy at the end.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to comments