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Ian Foster reminds himself 'just breathe' after another red card

Ethan de Groot looks on for the All Blacks. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The All Blacks claimed a 71-3 win over Namibia but more of a talking point than the scoreline will be the impending disciplinary proceedings for prop Ethan de Groot, who received a red card for a reckless tackle on Namibia’s Adriaan Booysen.

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The tackle came in the 71st minute as Namibia returned a goal-line dropout, the first point of contact was to the head of Booysen, who was subsequently taken from the field with an apparent injury.

The contact then deflected to the shoulder but there was also little evidence of an attempted wrap of the arm. Also of concern was how upright the All Black was in the tackle.

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The incident was quickly deemed to meet the yellow card threshold by referee Luke Pearce, who opted for an off-field review to determine the appropriate sanction. The bunker found the play merited a red card.

“I’d guess he’s looking at three weeks,” former Wallaby Sekope Kepu said after the match on Sky Sport.

Kepu noted de Groot’s clean record and the mitigating factor of there being another tackler involved when predicting the length of the ban.

Points Flow Chart

New Zealand win +68
Time in lead
80
Mins in lead
0
100%
% Of Game In Lead
0%
63%
Possession Last 10 min
37%
7
Points Last 10 min
0

Three weeks would see head coach Ian Foster’s preferred loosehead sidelined in both remaining pool games and a potential quarter-final matchup.

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The All Blacks will not be allowed to replace de Groot regardless of the sanction according to the laws, any potential replacements, like experienced campaigner Joe Moody, may only enter the squad for injury or compassionate reasons.

The prop stocks are already diminished for the All Blacks with starting tighthead Tyrel Lomax out with a deep gash suffered against the Springboks on August 25th.

Lomax’s recovery timeline has not been confirmed, he was back to running but not fully participating at training during the Namibia week. Assuming he’s out for the All Blacks’ next Test against Italy, there will be just four props to be selected in the matchday squad.

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Veterans Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tu’ungafasi got the nod in this match and may well be called upon as starters once more while youngsters Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams will also be available.

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New Zealand does have a bye-week in round three, meaning Lomax has two weeks to get back to full health for that next contest.

Following the match, Ian Foster said: “It’s frustrating getting a card.

“We’ll go and have a look at it. Experience has told me to just breathe a bit and have a good look, and there’s a lot of shoulder-on-shoulder and so we’ll have a look at that over the night and just see what happens.”

The coach later added: “We’ll compare it to something else that happened yesterday and see what comes out of that.”

Former All Black Israel Dagg added de Groot would be “absolutely livid with his decision-making”, especially after providing an immediate positive impact off the bench, scoring within a minute of taking the field.

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Comments

26 Comments
B
Bob Marler 557 days ago

It always felt like the Boks were “the most ill disciplined team” in the past. And they were - no doubt.

Playing in the NH more (as well as Rassies influence) I think has helped them better manage refereeing outcomes.

ABs seem to be there at the moment - and it can be rectified.

But consistency is still lacking!

M
Michael Röbbins (academic and writer extraordinair 558 days ago

Poor de Groot, after getting atomized by SA and France he tries to take it out on poor lil Namibia. Turd blossom.

J
Jen 558 days ago

I’m taking a breath and reminding myself that Razor is coming soon.

D
Driss 558 days ago

Clearly the worst team all blacks coached by the worst coach in the history. They learn nothing . The ill discipline problems continue for the professional players.
Great all blacks team did not have this ill discipline problems.
This all blacks team will go out in 1/4 for sure .
We are waiting only Razor revolution to rebuild the all blacks machine but it is necessary to clean out all the NZRU clowns and board.they are the responsable of this Foster ‘area disaster !

G
Graham 558 days ago

For a side that was so dominant there were a surprising number of penalties. And the card? The All Blacks are by far the leading card holders in first tier rugby. Surely that should be looked at - it's just about a card a game at the moment.

W
Willie 558 days ago

TMO's and the Bunker, or whatever name they have given to the frustrated and over zealous individuals who upgrade yellows, are making this tournament very difficult to watch.
DeGroot maybe warranted a penalty, nothing more.

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EllenMoody 5 hours ago
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JWH 6 hours ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Do you hear yourself? Do you have any concept of world view? Have you tried looking into why people call Ireland ‘arrogant’? Obviously not.


We started calling you arrogant when you called our captain a ‘shit Richie McCaw’. In New Zealand. On our turf. Don’t think that kind of behaviour really calls for respect, does it.


NZ don’t really talk ourselves up, if anything the rugby does it for us. No kiwi goes in the media and says: ‘We are gonna win the RWC’. However, I have found many instance of IRISH media saying that the Irish should win, without a doubt. THAT is disrespectful.


The All Blacks have played good rugby, even some of the best rugby ever, at many points in history, but I don’t think you could find a single instance of one of those players, or the NZ media, saying that they should whitewash their opponents. Ever.


Now, onto your analysis. Ireland DID choke the QF. They beat the champions, they were ranked first coming into it, a lot of players at the peaks of their powers. Its hard to say that they didn’t choke. Obviously, their preparation was just not as good as NZ, and thats all there really is to it.


If Ireland had repsected that ABs team and that QF more, maybe they would’ve prepared properly for it and won. But they didn’t.


Maybe if Ireland had won their QF last RWC, they wouldn’t have to be in the same pool as SA and Scotland. I mean, its called a draw for a reason. NZ got third last RWC, so of course they should get a reasonable pool, and they were ranked pretty highly too. If you want to talk about easy pools, look no further than Pool 3 with England, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia I think?


Now, obviously you don’t remember how that QF ended, so I’ll go ahead and rectify that. Ireland reclaimed the ball off kickoff and marched for 20ish phases into the opposition half. Savea then won a turnover, but the referee refused to give it, so play went on. Finally, at the NZ 22, after not giving up a single penatly in 25 phases of hard defense, Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black of all time, wins the game with an incredible steal.


Now, NZ players having a go at Ireland. Do you cry when you get hit after making the first swing? We all know Sexton is a prick on the field, its just the truth. And Ioane never backs down from a clash, so he thought he should humble a player who has never won an international knockout game who thought he was all that. Don’t really see the issue, its poetic justice really.

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