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Ian Foster 'happy' with All Blacks' last-minute tactic
Despite leading by 19 points with just 10 minutes left to play, the All Blacks have failed to secure a much-needed win over England at Twickenham.
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A drop goal from Beauden Barrett in the 70th minute looked to have sealed the result for NZ, taking the All Blacks out to a 25-6 lead, but the fullback was sin-binned at the next play when he illegally prevented England from getting fast ball at the breakdown, and the home team soon made their one-man advantage count, scoring two quick tries to bring them within seven points of their opposition.
A Ben Youngs box kick with time almost up on the clock appeared to have ended their chances of a draw, however, and it appeared that the All Blacks would look to grind out the final moments with their forwards.
That tactic was quickly abandoned, with reserve halfback TJ Perenara sending a wobbly kick up into the skies. England took control of possession and a few phases later, reserve prop Will Stuart crashed over for his second try of the evening, securing the tie.
Speaking after the match, All Blacks coach Ian Foster threw his support behind his men following the decision to pump the ball skyward instead of holding onto the pill and attempting to close out the game.
“I don’t think you can wind the clock down for two minutes nowadays,” Foster said. “I think the breakdown’s too heavily officiated. They’re looking hard at people sealing off and inevitably, if we tried to seal off the game for too long, I think you’re going to concede a penalty in that space. So I thought we actually did all that right.
“Ardie [Savea] called for that little wee kick from TJ, but then he realised that by the time TJ kicked that, [Savea] was a meter in front, so we lost a chaser off that.”
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Speaking more broadly, Foster somewhat lamented his side’s inability to safely and accurately exit from deep within their territory, with the All Blacks making an uncanny number of cross-kicks throughout the match out to the wings.
“I thought we may have got a little bit clever in that second half with a couple of our exits,” he said, “so perhaps we could have been a little bit more predictable – if that’s the word. But hey, when the guys were seeing stuff, we encourage them to pull the trigger.
“(Perenara’s kick) was one of the exits I mentioned that we weren’t as clinical as we needed to be, but no, I’m happy with the decision.”
I'm not an international rugby coach. But even I know that England couldn't have scored a try if they didn't have the ball. But professor Foster obviously thinks otherwise. It's great to back your mates, but the ABs have become myopic to the point where no fault or mistake is publicly acknowledged. Hmmm, much like NZR themselves.
Foster's just pants full stop. Can't wait to see the back him after the RWC, even IF they do win it. ABs have gone backwards under him, even their fitness looks lacking under him.