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'We want to make a statement': All Blacks coach Ian Foster issues warning ahead of second Bledisloe Cup clash
If anyone expects the All Blacks to roll over and let the Wallabies snap a 34-year losing run at Eden Park in Sunday’s second Bledisloe Cup tie, Ian Foster has another thing coming for you.
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The almost three-and-a-half decade long drought has been a focal point of discussion leading into this week’s trans-Tasman derby following the gripping 16-all draw in Wellington last Sunday.
The All Blacks’ performance in that stalemate wasn’t a perfect way to kick-off Ian Foster’s and Sam Cane’s tenures as head coach and captain of the national side, with a new-look Wallabies outfit asserting their dominance on New Zealand soil.
That’s something that has eluded the Australians since their last win on this side of the ditch in 2001, but under Dave Rennie’s watch, the Wallabies look a refreshed side that poses a genuine threat to that long-standing record.
As such, some of the greatest players to have pulled on the green and gold jersey, such as David Campese and Dan Herbert, have suggested over the past week that the All Blacks have lost their “aura” as optimism in Australia continues to rise leading into this weekend.
Foster has other plans, however, telling media on Friday that he and his side are eager to prove a point after delivering what they felt was a disappointing showing in the Kiwi capital five days ago.
“We’re fully used to those comments, and those comments come every time we have a performance that doesn’t reach our expectations,” he said.
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“So there’s not much point arguing with them, because if we’re not happy with where we’re at, then that’s all we’re worrying about.
“Is it time for a statement? Well, yes it is. We do want to make a statement. We actually want to get our levels to where we want to be, and there’s a group here that’s working really hard to do that, they’re excited by it.”
In order to make that statement, Foster has made five changes to his starting side, most notably demoting man-of-the-moment Rieko Ioane to the bench after his infamous knock-on while in the act of scoring over the tryline.
While his inexplicable blunder created numerous headlines throughout the week, Foster maintained he was impressed with the 23-year-old’s efforts in Wellington, but instead opted for the level-headedness of Anton Lienert-Brown at No. 13.
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“We’ve got three quality midfielders there at the moment, and just felt that this week, one of Anton’s strengths probably is decision-making around our organisation and little things like that,” Foster said.
“We just felt bringing him back in will give us a bit of an edge in that space, but, largely, I was actually pretty happy with a lot of things Rieko did last week, so we’ll use his involvement off the bench in a different way and hopefully maximise the three of them.”
Elsewhere, star playmaker Beauden Barrett returns to the run-on side at fullback after an achilles niggle ruled him out of the draw last week, but it’s the return of his brother Scott from a long-term toe injury that will be particularly pleasing for Foster.
Given the lack of depth in New Zealand’s lock stocks, having the 36-test star back in the mix and available for selection is a significant bonus, even if he is set to make his return to rugby off the bench as a replacement.
“I rate him at 100 percent. He wouldn’t be out there otherwise,” Foster said of Barrett’s fitness levels, despite having not played any rugby since pre-COVID Super Rugby.
“The minutes will be based on his fitness levels more than anything, not so much the injury.
“The injury’s cleared, so the last two weeks, he’s been through full contact, he’s been through full scrummaging loads, which was the big concern with that injury, and there was a feeling we could have even played him last week, but we really didn’t want to put him in too early.”
With veteran second rower Sam Whitelock ruled out of the fixture with concussion issues, one-test prospect Tupou Vaa’i has been handed a starting role alongside Patrick Tuipulotu.
The fact that the rising 20-year-old star has made the starting XV is a testament to the belief that Foster has in the man who only made his Chiefs debut in the first match of Super Rugby Aotearoa four months ago.
“Yeah, potentially, but [he’s] been out for a while, and just feel in this particular case, it’s really a vote of confidence in Tupou,” Foster said when asked if Barrett was considered for a place in the starting team.
“I think he showed us during the training weeks that he’s trained at a high level, he’s been in the role, done his systems work the last two weeks and, again, I thought he should be pretty proud of his effort when he came off the bench last week.”
Two Barretts are back for the upcoming Bledisloe – but only one of them will start. What has Ian Foster seen in Tupou Vaa'i to keep Scott Barrett on the pine? #AllBlacks #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUShttps://t.co/uMRDc1NtFb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2020
The match won’t just be a big occasion for Vaa’i, as impressive Blues prop Alex Hodgman is poised to make his test debut after being named on the bench in place of Super Rugby teammate Karl Tu’inukuafe.
“Alex, I think, has trained really, really well. We’ve picked some new players, and I think I said early on through this series, we want to make sure we give people some opportunity, so there’s a sense of that,” Foster said of his selection.
“Karl scrummed really strongly last week, so it’s a chance for Alex to have an opportunity.
“He’s a mobile loosehead, so I think he brings a bit of mobility to the game, and against a team that wants to play sort of a fast ruck-and-run game, that’s going to be good for us.
“He can’t wait to get on the park.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments