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'A very different stage': Ian Foster on All Blacks' growth since France loss
By Ned Lester
The Rugby World Cup is a long tournament. It was long enough for South Africa to turn their fortunes in 2019 and go from losing their first match to winning the ultimate prize, so is it long enough for the All Blacks to do the same?
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Having lost not just their first match of the tournament against France, but also their final warm-up Test against the Springboks, the New Zealand team were the first to admit there was work to do in chasing their goal of becoming world champions.
The familiar chorus of “good learnings” was echoed through the halls of both Twickenham and Stade de France after consecutive historic losses, but just how far those learnings will get the team is yet to be revealed.
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The All Blacks didn’t have to wait long for another crack at the world’s best, as the final cards of the Rugby World Cup pool stages fell, a date with Ireland in the quarter-finals was confirmed.
With their path to rugby’s greatest throne set, Ian Foster’s side face the ominous challenge of tackling a team unbeaten in their past 17 encounters.
The coach was optimistic about how the schedule to date has set his side up for the contest.
“I think France was a very different stage for us,” he told The Breakdown. “That first game we came in and had that one game at Twickenham, we had gaps either side of that.
“We had a number of injuries, I thought we played well for 50 minutes but we probably learned a few lessons about composure and how to get out of our half in the last 20. So, we’ve worked hard on that, I guess we’ll see how much.”
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Foster elaborated on the influence of past results as the quarter-final team was named.
“I don’t think the past matters. I think you learn a lot from the past but you learn it at the time and it becomes part of who you are and becomes part of you as a team. This team we have prepared well with this in mind.
“If you look at this year, the whole thing was about getting ready for a World Cup and making sure we are primed to perform at this stage of the tournament.
“We are excited. We know the size of the challenge, how good Ireland are, they deserve all the plaudits they get. But, play-off rugby is about who’s best on the day.”
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With the pressure on New Zealand to avoid a first-ever pool stage exit, the team faced a confident Italian team in round four, the Azzuri were yet to taste defeat at the World Cup at that stage and presented a dangerous challenge after relatively recent wins over Wales and Australia.
The All Blacks dismissed the Italians with style and continued their record of allowing no first-half tries at the tournament. That record was extended in their final pool clash against Uruguay.
When asked how the record would fare against Ireland, Foster was surprised, unaware of his team’s first-half shutout.
“I didn’t know that,” he grinned. “But we are working hard on our starts, it’s not so much about tactically, a lot of that is about mentally. It’s about making sure that you don’t go in feeling like you’ve got to absorb the occasion, absorb the pressure, you’ve actually got to go and take a step forward in those first few minutes.
“We’ve been working on that, I feel pretty good about that. I thought against Uruguay, we sat back a little bit and that first 20 minutes, they came and disrupted us a lot and forced us into some errors that we can’t afford to happen this week.
“It’s a work in progress but it is something that we’re really trying to nail our concentration early in the game.”
Is it possible that a long winter is approaching the AB land?. I mean since 1987 they were top and never won another WC till 2011, 24 years now with what's happening in Rugby land in OZ and NZ the loss of interest and cash is troubling. So another 24 years that’s 2039. If no one is worried about that at the Leadership level, we are in deep trouble at SH rugby.
It's possible that the norther power game hype dies a death this weekend…
I thought they were in control in the first 40 in both matches they lost to SA and France so the growth is seen in the other two teams. Sorry Foz
Had a look at Ireland/ NZ in 19. Surprisingly similar teams. NZ look stronger if anything. What happened to Ireland in 19? Did they just hit a NZ team running hot?
Better hope this one doesn't turn in one of those performances that the AB's are so famous for.
I suppose most think that never happens under Foster?
Apart from Read
What? You think we look stronger now without carter, McCaw, franks, read and Conrad Smith? Not sure about that….
Yes and Ireland was dropping from a fatigue season, not used to playing top tier rugby now they are better than AB 2015
The assistant coaches will be tied up Charlie.
Their main job is “Turning Sam Cane around at half time”
That in itself is a major operation.
Bj what?
Foster is still the coach so I am not confident. The ABs need to rely on their assistant coaches and the experience of the senior players to get over Ireland and fosters weak muddled influence
Foster is spot on about the ABs 1/4 final v France in 2015. I was there.
Packed out stadium in Cardiff, le bleus fans everywhere and the ABs walking in to face the worst opponent of all, in Cardiff, at 1/4 final stage….the feeling at the stadium for AB fans like me was extremely edgy as the French just love nailing us…we had also come off a game v Namibia in pool play.
What unfolded next was nothing short of the greatest napalming of France I have ever seen.
I suspect similar is about to unfold in 24 hours, all the conditions are similar.
Foster was also in the coaches box.
Only now Ireland is playing better than the AB in 15. So this will be 2007 all over again.
Agree, but it’s unlikely to be 60 points.
is it long enough for the All Blacks to do the same?
Well no. They really haven’t made a start.
Well he's not going to say that we won't win they're in for an exit of the tournament