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Ian Foster address injury rumours to key All Black before World Cup final
By Finn Morton
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has unequivocally dismissed rumours of an injury to star playmaker Richie Mo’unga ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France.
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New Zealand Herald journalist Liam Napier had heard “injury whispers” of what would’ve been a game-changing injury in the lead-up to the decider. Stuff also mentioned the rumour in one of their pieces this week.
There was also an extensive Reddit thread as fans began to spread the news like wildfire mere days out from the biggest game on the men’s rugby calendar. But if Mo’unga is injured, then that’s news to coach Foster.
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After unveiling the All Blacks team for the Rugby World Cup final, coach Foster offered a smile to a room of reporters as he put any rumours of Mo’unga’s readiness to rest.
“I was very interested to read that. I haven’t heard that from our medical staff, so he is good to go,” Foster said on Thursday.
“10s are key, they always are in big games, but we like to take the pressure off one person by the guys in front of them doing their jobs, our nine giving good service. There are lots of different pictures you see outside your 10 too.
“But Richie is in a great spot, he is leading the team well, he has a smile on his face and is uninjured.”
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With both teams looking to win a record fourth Rugby World Cup title, the All Blacks and Springboks will write another unmissable chapter into the history books of their rivalry.
Both coach Foster and captain Sam Cane know what it takes to win the sport’s biggest prize, with the pair contributing to the All Blacks’ triumph at the 2015 tournament in England.
But there’s something a bit different about this Test. The All Blacks were written off by many coming into the Rugby World Cup, and it’s their arch-rivals who stand in their way of eternal glory.
“Yeah, big. That’s what World Cup finals are about. This is our second one we’ve been to. I don’t think there’s ever a small one. The fact is we have two teams who have been old foes for a long time,” Foster added.
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“We all remember the last final between us [in 1995], which was an epic, and hopefully this one will be the same. Then you do the maths and someone is going to win a fourth, so it’s special isn’t it?
“We’ve got massive regard for each other, massive respect for them as country in how they play. It’s a pretty cool one to get ready for.”
Relax, there are numerous sources confirming Stephen Donald seen fishing in the French countryside
“We’ve got massive regard for each other, massive respect for them as country in how they play. It’s a pretty cool one to get ready for.”
Hilarious “All Black speak” from Foster.
Isn’t this the same Ian Foster who criticized the standard of play between SA and Ire saying:
"If you look at the South Africa-Ireland game, it was a different game of rugby. The ball was in play for 27 minutes throughout the whole game.
"It was a very stop-start game, very physical, very combative. You saw a different spectacle tonight and at some point the world has got to decide which game it would rather watch."
The incredible bullshitting man strikes again!
Ireland are so yesterday’s news, eh?
Seems its you who is the bullshit man
You should go on a hunt for Wild Pigs, then you can stick your knife in the heart of a Boar, twist it round and round …..
and round some more to your satisfaction
I’m sure he’d have plenty of respect for you, Turlough!
Reading comprehension isn’t a strong point for old Turdlough so please, go easy on his shit stirring.
If he had half a brain he’d recognise the two comments aren’t related and both are true. You can equally admire SA playing to their strengths, their ability to grind out a win through sheer grit and determination.
While at the same time having a view as to whether or not that style of rugby is attractive as an entertainment spectacle.
But to understand that you’d need a brain. So he didn’t/can’t.
And I continue to bath in his angry spiteful salty tears as they still stream since Ireland’s loss. Pass the loofa 😂
chill out Turlough dam do you think he doesnt respect SOUTH AFRICA never mind the hows or whatever every rugby person in new zealand respects sth africa if they dont well fukm , but he does that team (SA) has smoked us already , smoked us why cause we didnt have 15 v 15 and that is the minimum prerequisite you need to play SA anything less ,,, toast city and even with 15v15 ,,,, pain where? EVERRYWHERE
Maybe it was the team that went into their shell in that game that is to blame for how the rugby looked between Ire and SA?
You will see another France v SA game in the final. Understand now?
Yes the incredible bull shitting idiot named tulog strikes again. What a creep.